Methods and compositions related to targeting wounds, regenerating tissue, and tumors

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are compositions and methods useful for targeting regenerating tissue, wounds, and tumors. The compositions and methods are based on peptide sequences that selectively bind to and home to regenerating tissue, wound sites, and tumors in animals. The disclosed targeting is useful for delivering therapeutic and detectable agents to regenerating tissue, wound sites, and tumors in animals.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/868,772, filed Dec. 6, 2006, herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

This invention was made with government support under grants PO1 CA82713 and CA 30199 from the National Cancer Institute of the NIH, andgrant DAMD17-02-1-0315 from the DOD. The government has certain rightsin the invention

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the fields of molecularmedicine, more specifically, to molecules that selectively home to woundsites and regenerating tissue.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tissue regeneration, inflammation and tumors induce the growth of newblood vessels from pre-existing ones. This process, angiogenesis, is avital requirement for wound healing as the formation of new bloodvessels allows a variety of mediators, nutrients, and oxygen to reachthe healing tissue (Martin 1997, Singer & Clark 1999, Falanga 2006,Folkman 2006). Newly formed blood vessels differ in structure frompre-existing vasculature. Such differences have been extensivelycharacterized by comparing tumor vasculature to normal vessels(Ruoslahti, 2002). Angiogenic vessels in non-malignant tissues and inpre-malignant lesions share markers with tumor vessels (Gerlag et al,2001), but distinct markers also exist (Hoffman et al., 2003; Joyce etal., 2003).

Regarding tissue injuries, substantive basic science and clinicalresearch have been conducted to evaluate the mechanisms of woundhealing, the efficacy of various modalities for treatment of wounds, andthe best methods for diagnosing wound infection. Tissue injuries causedby trauma, medical procedures, and inflammation are a major medicalproblem. Systemic medication is available for most major medicalconditions, but therapeutic options in promoting tissue regeneration arelargely limited to local intervention. As deep injuries and multiplesites of injury often limit the usefulness of local treatment, systemicapproaches to tissue regeneration are valuable.

A major problem limiting tissue regeneration is scar formation. Theresponse to tissue injury in adult mammals seems to be mainly focused onquick sealing on the injury. Fibroblast (astrocyte, smooth muscle cell)proliferation and enhanced extracellular matrix production are the mainelement of the scar formation, and the scar prevents tissueregeneration. In contrast, fetal tissues heal by a process that restoresthe original tissue architecture with no scarring. Transforming growthfactor β (TGF-β) is a major factor responsible for impaired tissueregeneration, scar formation and fibrosis (Werner and Grose 2002;Brunner and Blakytny 2004; Leask and Abraham 2004).

A major hurdle to advances in treating cancer is the relative lack ofagents that can selectively target the cancer while sparing normaltissue. For example, radiation therapy and surgery, which generally arelocalized treatments, can cause substantial damage to normal tissue inthe treatment field, resulting in scarring and loss of normal tissue.Chemotherapy, in comparison, which generally is administeredsystemically, can cause substantial damage to organs such as the bonemarrow, mucosae, skin and small intestine, which undergo rapid cellturnover and continuous cell division. As a result, undesirable sideeffects such as nausea, loss of hair and drop in blood cell count oftenoccur when a cancer patient is treated intravenously with achemotherapeutic drug. Such undesirable side effects can limit theamount of a drug that can be safely administered, thereby hamperingsurvival rate and impacting the quality of patient life.

Thus, there is a need for new therapeutic strategies for selectivelytargeting regenerating tissue as well as wounds, and reducing the sideeffects associated with systemic therapy. The present inventionsatisfies this need by providing molecules that selectively home toregenerating tissue and tumors, and which are suitable for selectivelytargeting drugs, gene therapy vectors or other agents to the appropriatetissue. Related advantages also are provided.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein are isolated peptides comprising an amino acid segmentcomprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, orthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2 having one ormore conservative amino acid substitutions. The isolated peptide canhave a length of less than 100, 50, or 20 residues. Also, the amino acidsegment can be cyclic, and can be cyclicized via a disulfide bond. Theisolated peptide can consist of the amino acid segment.

The peptides disclosed herein can selectively home to regeneratingtissue. Regenerating tissue can include that found at a site of injury,a surgical site, or a tumor. The peptide can also home to a site ofinflammation, or arthritis.

Also disclosed herein are conjugates, wherein the conjugate comprises amoiety linked to a peptide as disclosed herein. The peptide canselectively interact with regenerating tissue, or with tissue at a siteof inflammation, or with tissue at a site of arthritis. The peptide canalso selectively interact with a tumor. The moiety can be ananti-angiogenic agent, a pro-angiogenic agent, a cancer chemotherapeuticagent, a cytotoxic agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-arthriticagent, a polypeptide, a nucleic acid molecule, a small molecule, afluorophore, fluorescein, rhodamine, a radionuclide, indium-111,technetium-99, carbon-11, carbon-13, or a combination. The moiety can bea therapeutic agent, a detectable agent, a virus, or a phage.

Also disclosed herein are methods of directing a moiety to regeneratingtissue, comprising administering to a subject a conjugate, as disclosedherein. Disclosed are methods wherein the therapeutic effect comprises areduction in inflammation, an increase in speed of wound healing, areduction in the amount of scar tissue, decrease in pain, decrease inswelling, or decrease in necrosis.

Also disclosed are methods of directing a moiety to tumors, comprisingadministering to a subject a conjugate as disclosed herein. Theconjugate can have a therapeutic effect, and the subject can have one ormore sites to be targeted, wherein the moiety is directed to one or moreof the sites to be targeted. The subject can have cancer, wherein themoiety is directed to tumor angiogenesis in the subject. The conjugatecan have a therapeutic effect on the cancer, such as reducing the sizeor growth of a tumor. The moiety can also be used to detect the cancer,visualize one or more tumors, or both.

Additional advantages of the disclosed method and compositions will beset forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will beunderstood from the description, or may be learned by practice of thedisclosed method and compositions. The advantages of the disclosedmethod and compositions will be realized and attained by means of theelements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing generaldescription and the following detailed description are exemplary andexplanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of thedisclosed method and compositions and together with the description,serve to explain the principles of the disclosed method andcompositions.

FIG. 1 shows the accumulation of homing peptide-guided decorins in woundtissue. Mice with full thickness skin wounds, received daily intravenousinjections as indicated on Days 3-5 after the wounding (n=4 per group, 2wounds per animal). On Day 5, the presence of decorins was evaluatedwith anti-6-histidine tag antibody (which stains brown) by examining twosections from each wound. The wounds of mice injected with non-modifieddecorin (DCN) were weakly positive for decorin staining, whereas strongstaining was observed in CRK-decorin and CAR-decorin wounds. Nodecorin-staining was observed in skeletal muscle underlying the skinwounds of mice treated with DCN, CAR-DCN or CRK-DCN (shown for CRK-DCN;CRK-DCN/muscle). No staining was seen in wound tissue when class-matchedmouse IgG was substituted for the anti-6-histidine tag antibody(Antibody control).

FIG. 2 shows a reduction in granulation tissue, scar formation, andwound width during wound healing in mice treated with homing peptidedecorins. (a) Representative microscopic fields from the wounds ofanimals on Day 14. The area of granulation tissue/scar (b) andhyperproliferative epidermis (c) was quantified by examining two suchmicroscopic sections from each wound and expressed as the average of thetwo values. There were seven animals, each with three wounds, in everytreatment group. (*) P<0.05, (**) P<0.01, (***) P<0.001, ANOVA. Theresults are expressed as mean±SEM. CRK and CAR refer to the freepeptides. (d) Rate of wound re-epithelialization. The wounds wereexamined and photographed daily. Re-epithelialization was recorded andexpressed as percentage of completely closed wounds. Statisticalsignificance was examined using the χ2 test, (*) P<0.05, (**) P<0.01,(***) P<0.001.

FIG. 3 shows the effect of decorins on TGF-β-induced processes in skinwounds. (a) Gene expression. Wounds produced and treated as in FIG. 2were harvested on Day 5 and mRNA expression for collagen type I α1 genewas determined. The PBS treatment control was assigned the value 100%.Error bars represent mean±SD for two pools of RNA isolated from twowounds in each of four different animals. (b) Accumulation ofα-SMA-positive (myofibroblasts). Representative sections from woundscollected on Day 10 after wounding are shown. A wound from adecorin-treated mouse was stained with class-matched mouse IgG as aspecificity control (Antibody control). The wounds of mice treated withCAR-decorin showed diminished myofibroblast reaction and there werealmost no myofibroblasts in the wound stroma of mice treated withCRK-decorin and CB-decorin; the arrows indicate α-SMA-positive smoothmuscle cells in the walls of blood vessels. Magnification: ×150.

FIG. 4 shows cloning and production of decorin fusion proteins. (a) Aschematic showing the fusion (SEQ ID NO:19) of the CAR or CRK peptidesequence and a his-tag to C-terminus of full-length human decorin cDNA.(b) Gel electrophoretic analysis of recombinant decorins. Therecombinant proteins were expressed in mammalian cells, purified on aNi-column, separated on gradient SDS-PAGE gels, and stained withCoomassie Blue (left) or detected with a monoclonal anti-6-histidine tagantibody (right). The decorin-homing peptide fusions migrate as sharpbands at 45 kDa with a smear above it. The sharp bands correspond to thecore proteins, and the smear is caused by heterogeneity in thechondroitin sulfate chain attached to most of the molecules. Massspectrometry confirmed protein identity as decorin, and differentialscanning calorimetry produced a sharp peak with a melting temperature ofTm=49.3° C., indicating native protein folding. The yields were 30-55 mgof glycosylated, purified protein per liter of cell culture media.

FIG. 5 shows decorin-homing-peptide fusion proteins inhibit CHO-K cellproliferation. Shown are growth curves of CHO-K cells treated with 0.3μg/ml/day of decorins; Control, no addition; DCN, decorin; CRK-DCN,CRK-decorin; CAR-DCN, CAR-decorin. Error bars represent mean±standarddeviation (SD) of 3 separate experiments performed in duplicate at eachtime point. CAR-decorin was particularly potent in inhibiting cellproliferation (P<0.001 compared to decorin for all doses at each timepoint after day 3; ANOVA). CRK-decorin was also significantly morepotent than decorin (P=0.017 on day 5).

FIG. 6 shows internalization of decorins and inhibition of cellspreading. The culture media of CHO-K cells supplemented with 0.3 μg/mlof the indicated proteins daily for 3 days. The decorins were detectedwith anti-his-tag antibody and FITC-conjugated secondary antibody.Confocal microscopy confirmed the presence of CAR-decorin fluorescencein the nucleus (inset). Magnification: 400×. The peptide-modifieddecorins inhibited cell spreading more strongly than unmodified decorin.

FIG. 7 shows the effect of decorins on the expression of TGF-β-inducedgenes in skin wounds. Wounds produced and treated as in FIG. 2 wereharvested on Day 5 and mRNA expression for the indicated genes wasdetermined. The PBS treatment control was assigned the value 100%. Errorbars represent mean±SD for two pools of RNA isolated from two wounds ineach of four different animals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed method and compositions can be understood more readily byreference to the following detailed description of particularembodiments and the Example included therein and to the Figures andtheir previous and following description.

Before the present compounds, compositions, articles, devices, and/ormethods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that theyare not limited to specific synthetic methods or specific recombinantbiotechnology methods unless otherwise specified, or to particularreagents unless otherwise specified, as such may, of course, vary. It isalso to be understood that the terminology used herein is for thepurpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended tobe limiting.

A. GENERAL

In vivo screening of phage-displayed peptide libraries was used to probevascular specialization. This method has revealed a large degree ofheterogeneity in the vasculature; and tissue-specific homing peptideshave been identified for a large number of normal organs and tissues(Rajotte at al., 1998; Zhang et al., 2005; Kolonin et al., 2006), andtumors and atherosclerotic lesions have been shown to carry their ownvascular markers, both in the blood vessels and in lymphatics(Ruoslahti, 2002; Liu et al., 2003; Zhang et al., 2006). It was reasonedthat surveying non-malignant angiogenesis could reveal a differentrepertoire of markers than has been gleaned from studies with tumor.Wounds were chosen as the target, as wounds are one of the few thelocations where angiogenesis takes place in an adult organism.

Two peptides that selectively target phage to skin and tendon woundswere identified: CARSKNKDC(CAR, SEQ ID NO: 1) and CRKDKC(CRK, SEQ ID NO:2). CAR displays homology to heparin-binding sites in various proteins,and binds to cell surface heparan sulfate and heparin. CRK is homologousto a segment in thrombospondin type 1 repeat. Intravenously injected CARand CRK phage, and the fluorescein-labeled free peptides selectivelyaccumulate at wound sites, partially co-localizing with blood vessels.The CAR peptide shows a preference for early stages of wound healing,whereas the CRK favors wounds at later stages of wound healing. The CARpeptide is internalized into the target cells and delivers thefluorescent label into their nuclei. These results show that themolecular markers in the vasculature of wound tissues change as healingprogresses. The peptides recognizing these markers can be useful, forexample, in delivering treatments into regenerating tissues.

These peptides can deliver a payload to wound tissue with a 20 to100-fold selectivity. These peptides appear to be different frompreviously described tumor-homing peptides, and they reveal changes inthe molecular profile of wound vasculature as the wound heals.

These wound-homing peptides were used to demonstrate the feasibility ofsystemic targeting of wounds to promote wound healing and tissueregeneration. The peptides were used as a specific homing element fortargeted delivery of decorin into skin wounds. Decorin is a smallleucine-rich chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan. It is a multifunctionalprotein that regulates collagen fibril formation, acts as a naturalantagonist of TGF-β (Yamaguchi and Ruoslahti, 1989), and has otherregulatory functions as well. Decorin prevents tissue fibrosis (Borderet al., 1992), promoting tissue regeneration. Peptide-decorin fusionproteins were designed, and then used to treat mice with skin wounds.The fusion proteins were strikingly effective in preventing scarformation, where an equivalent dose of decorin was inactive. Thetargeting approach can make systemic enhancement of tissue regenerationa feasible option. These results identify new therapy options forsurgical wounds as well as for various kinds of internal trauma thatgoes beyond approaches based on the direct, topical application oftherapeutic molecules at the wound site.

B. DEFINITIONS

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms“a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a pharmaceuticalcarrier” includes mixtures of two or more such carriers, and the like.

Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value,and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range isexpressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular valueand/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values areexpressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it willbe understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. Itwill be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges aresignificant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently ofthe other endpoint. It is also understood that there are a number ofvalues disclosed herein, and that each value is also herein disclosed as“about” that particular value in addition to the value itself. Forexample, if the value “10” is disclosed, then “about 10” is alsodisclosed. It is also understood that when a value is disclosed that“less than or equal to” the value, “greater than or equal to the value”and possible ranges between values are also disclosed, as appropriatelyunderstood by the skilled artisan. For example, if the value “10” isdisclosed the “less than or equal to 10” as well as “greater than orequal to 10” is also disclosed. It is also understood that thethroughout the application, data is provided in a number of differentformats, and that this data, represents endpoints and starting points,and ranges for any combination of the data points. For example, if aparticular data point “10” and a particular data point 15 are disclosed,it is understood that greater than, greater than or equal to, less than,less than or equal to, and equal to 10 and 15 are considered disclosedas well as between 10 and 15. It is also understood that each unitbetween two particular units are also disclosed. For example, if 10 and15 are disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 are also disclosed.

In this specification and in the claims which follow, reference will bemade to a number of terms which shall be defined to have the followingmeanings:

“Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described eventor circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includesinstances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where itdoes not.

Throughout this application, various publications are referenced. Thedisclosures of these publications in their entireties are herebyincorporated by reference into this application in order to more fullydescribe the state of the art to which this pertains. The referencesdisclosed are also individually and specifically incorporated byreference herein for the material contained in them that is discussed inthe sentence in which the reference is relied upon.

It is to be understood that the disclosed method and compositions arenot limited to specific synthetic methods, specific analyticaltechniques, or to particular reagents unless otherwise specified, and,as such, may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology usedherein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only andis not intended to be limiting.

Materials

Disclosed are the components to be used to prepare the disclosedcompositions as well as the compositions themselves to be used withinthe methods disclosed herein. These and other materials are disclosedherein, and it is understood that when combinations, subsets,interactions, groups, etc. of these materials are disclosed that whilespecific reference of each various individual and collectivecombinations and permutation of these compounds may not be explicitlydisclosed, each is specifically contemplated and described herein. Forexample, if a particular peptide is disclosed and discussed and a numberof modifications that can be made to a number of molecules including thepeptide are discussed, specifically contemplated is each and everycombination and permutation of the peptides and the modifications thatare possible unless specifically indicated to the contrary. Thus, if aclass of molecules A, B, and C are disclosed as well as a class ofmolecules D, E, and F and an example of a combination molecule, A-D isdisclosed, then even if each is not individually recited each isindividually and collectively contemplated meaning combinations, A-E,A-F, B-D, B-E, B-F, C-D, C-E, and C-F are considered disclosed.Likewise, any subset or combination of these is also disclosed. Thus,for example, the sub-group of A-E, B-F, and C-E would be considereddisclosed. This concept applies to all aspects of this applicationincluding, but not limited to, steps in methods of making and using thedisclosed compositions. Thus, if there are a variety of additional stepsthat can be performed it is understood that each of these additionalsteps can be performed with any specific embodiment or combination ofembodiments of the disclosed methods.

Disclosed are methods and compositions related to an isolated peptidecomprising an amino acid segment comprising the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2 or related amino acid sequences.

Also disclosed are isolated peptides comprising an amino acid segmentcomprising, for example, the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQID NO: 2, or the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2having one or more conservative amino acid substitutions. For example,the peptide can have 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 conservative amino acidsubstitutions. One of skill in the art is readily able to assess whichamino acids can be substituted and retain the function of the peptide.

Also disclosed are conjugates, wherein the conjugate comprises a moietylinked to a peptide comprising an amino acid segment comprising, forexample, the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, or theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 having one or moreconservative amino acid substitutions.

The peptide can have a length of less than 100 residues. The peptide canhave a length of less than 50 residues. The peptide can have a length ofless than 20 residues. The amino acid segment can comprise the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2. The amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 can have one or more conservative amino acidsubstitutions. The amino acid segment can be circular or cyclic. Theamino acid segment can be circularized or cyclized via a disulfide bond.The peptide can consist of the amino acid segment. The peptide canselectively home to regenerating tissue, wound sites, or tumors. Thepeptide can selectively interact with regenerating tissue, wound sites,or tumors.

The moiety can be a moiety is a an anti-angiogenic agent, apro-angiogenic agent, a cancer chemotherapeutic agent, a cytotoxicagent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-arthritic agent, apolypeptide, a nucleic acid molecule, a small molecule, a fluorophore,fluorescein, rhodamine, a radionuclide, indium-111, technetium-99,carbon-11, carbon-13, or a combination. The moiety can be a therapeuticagent. The moiety can be a detectable agent. The conjugate can comprisesa virus. The conjugate can comprise a phage. The conjugate can furthercomprise a second peptide, wherein the second peptide comprising anamino acid segment comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 orSEQ ID NO: 2, or the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2having one or more conservative amino acid substitutions.

The subject can have regenerating tissue, such as that found in a wound.The wound can be chronic, or can be acute. The wound can be in any stageof healing, from the inflammatory stage, to granulation, to contraction,to epithelialization, to the remodeling phase, which includescollagenation and the formation of scar tissue. The wound can be from anauto, boat, or airplane accident, a gunshot, stabbing or knife accident,a fall, an industrial accident, or impalement. The wound can also beformed during surgery, for example. The wound can also be the result ofa treatment, such as the implanting of a port.

The conjugate can treat at least one of the sites of injury. Theconjugate can have a therapeutic effect on at least one of the sites ofinjury. The moiety can be used to detect, visualize, or image at leastone of the sites of injury, or a combination. When a tumor is beingtreated, the moiety is directed to angiogenic tissue in the subject. Theconjugate can treat the cancer. The conjugate can have a therapeuticeffect on the cancer. The size of a tumor can be reduced. The growth ofa tumor can be reduced, stopped or reversed. The moiety can be used todetect the cancer, visualize one or more tumors, or both.

A. Homing Molecules

Disclosed are homing molecules that selectively home to sites ofinjuries and wounds, regenerating tissue, and tumors. A variety ofhoming molecules can be used in the disclosed compositions, conjugatesand methods. Such homing molecules include, without limitation, peptidesas disclosed herein. The disclosed compounds, compositions, conjugatesand methods can include or use the disclosed homing molecules in variousforms, including peptides and peptidomimetics as disclosed. Forconvenience of expression, in many places herein the use or inclusion ofpeptides will be recited. It is understood that, in such cases, it isconsidered that homing molecules in various forms can also be used orincluded in the same or similar ways as is described in terms ofpeptides, and such use and inclusion is specifically contemplated anddisclosed thereby.

As used herein, the term “molecule” is used broadly to mean a polymericor non-polymeric organic chemical such as a small molecule drug; anucleic acid molecule such as an RNA, a DNA such as a cDNA oroligonucleotide; a peptide; or a protein such as a growth factorreceptor or an antibody or fragment thereof such as an Fv, Fd, or Fabfragment or another antibody fragment containing the antigen-bindingdomain.

The term “homing molecule” as used herein, means any molecule thatselectively homes in vivo to the clotted plasma of one or more woundtissue, regenerating tissue, or tumors in preference to normal tissue.Similarly, the term “homing peptide” or “homing peptidomimetic” means apeptide that selectively homes in vivo to regenerating tissue, wounds,or tumors in preference to normal tissue. It is understood that a homingmolecule that selectively homes in vivo to regenerating tissue, wounds,or tumors or can exhibit preferential homing to regenerating tissue,wounds, or tumors.

By “selectively homes” is meant that, in vivo, the homing molecule bindspreferentially to the target as compared to non-target. For example, thehoming molecule can bind preferentially to regenerating tissue, woundtissue, or tumors, as compared to non-regenerating tissue, non-woundtissue, or non-tumors. Such a homing molecule can selectively home, forexample, to regenerating tissue. Selective homing to, for example,regenerating tissue generally is characterized by at least a two-foldgreater localization within regenerating tissue, as compared to severaltissue types of non-regenerating tissue. A homing molecule can becharacterized by 5-fold, 10-fold, 20-fold or more preferentiallocalization to regenerating tissue as compared to several or manytissue types of non-regenerating tissue, or as compared to-most or allnon-regenerating tissue. Thus, it is understood that, in some cases, ahoming molecule homes, in part, to one or more normal organs in additionto homing to regenerating tissue, wound tissue, or tumors. Selectivehoming can also be referred to as targeting.

In some embodiments, a homing molecule can be a molecule thatselectively homes regenerating tissue, wound tissue, or tumors and whichis not an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof. The term“antibody” is an art-recognized term that refers to a peptide orpolypeptide containing one or more complementarity determining regions(CDRs). See, for example, Borrabaeck, Antibody Engineering 2nd Edition,Oxford University Press, New York (1995).

Homing, including preferential and/or selective homing, does not meanthat the homing molecule does not bind to any normal and/or non-targetedareas (for example, non-tumor, non-clot, and/or non-wound). In someembodiments, homing selectivity can be, for example, at least about20-fold, at least about 30-fold, at least about 50-fold, at least about75-fold, at least about 100-fold, at least about 150-fold, or at leastabout 200-fold selective for a corresponding target in terms of relativeK_(i) over other non-target components. In some embodiments, the homingmolecule can have at least about a 50-fold selectivity, at least about a100-fold selectivity, at least about a 200-fold selectivity, at leastabout a 300-fold selectivity, at least about a 400-fold selectivity, atleast about a 500-fold selectivity, at least about a 600-foldselectivity, at least about a 700-fold selectivity, at least about an800-fold selectivity, at least about a 1000-fold selectivity, or atleast about a 1500-fold selectivity to a corresponding target. Forexample, in some preferred embodiments, the homing molecule can have aK_(i) value against a target of less than about 200 nM, less than about150 nM, less than about 100 nM, or less than about 75 nM. In somepreferred embodiments, the homing molecule can have a K_(i) valueagainst a target of more than about 50 nM, more than about 25 nM, morethan about 20 nM, more than about 15 nM, more than about 10 nM, morethan about 5 nM, more than about 3 nM, or more than about 1 nM. In somepreferred embodiments, the targeting moiety binds its target with aK_(D) less than about 10⁻⁸ M, less than about 10⁻⁹ M, less than about10⁻¹⁰ M, less than about 10⁻¹¹ M, less than about 10⁻¹² M, less thanabout 10⁻¹³ M, or less than about 10⁻¹⁴ M.

Binding in the context of a homing molecule recognizing and/or bindingto its target can refer to both covalent and non-covalent binding, forexample where a homing molecule can bind, attach or otherwise couple toits target by covalent and/or non-covalent binding. Binding can beeither high affinity or low affinity, preferably high affinity. Examplesof binding forces that can be useful include, but are not limited to,covalent bonds, dipole interactions, electrostatic forces, hydrogenbonds, hydrophobic interactions, ionic bonds, and/or van der Waalsforces.

1. Peptides and Peptidomimetics

Disclosed are methods and compositions related to an isolated peptidecomprising an amino acid segment comprising the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2 or related amino acid sequences. Theisolated peptides can comprise, for example, an amino acid segmentcomprising, for example, the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQID NO: 2, or the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2having one or more conservative amino acid substitutions.

The amino acid segment can comprise an amino acid sequence at leastabout 90%, 80%, 70%, or 60% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO:2, or any percentage in between that represents achange, including addition or deletion, of one or more amino acid. Theamino acid segment can comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1or SEQ ID NO:2. The amino acid segment can comprise the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 having one, two, three, four,five, six, seven, eight, or nine conservative amino acid substitutions.The amino acid segment can comprise a chimera of the amino acid sequenceSEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2. Such a chimera can be additive, wheresequence of one sequence is added to another sequence, substitutional,where sequence of one sequence is substituted for sequence of anothersequence, or a combination. The disclosed peptides can consist of theamino acid segment.

The amino acid segment can be linear, circular or cyclic. The amino acidsegment can be circularized or cyclized via any suitable linkage, forexample, a disulfide bond.

The peptide can have any suitable length, such as a length of less than100 residues. The peptide can have a length of less than 50 residues.The peptide can have a length of less than 20 residues.

The disclosed peptides can selectively home to regenerating tissue,wound tissue, or tumors. The disclosed peptides can selectively interactwith regenerating tissue, wound tissue, or tumors.

Also disclosed are isolated peptides which has a length of less than 100residues and which includes the amino acid sequence CAR (SEQ ID NO: 1)or a peptidomimetic thereof, or CRK (SEQ ID NO: 2) or a peptidomimeticthereof. Such an isolated peptide can have, for example, a length ofless than 50 residues or a length of less than 20 residues. Inparticular embodiments, disclosed can be a peptide that includes theamino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, and has a length ofless than 20, 50 or 100 residues.

The disclosed peptides can be in isolated form. As used herein inreference to the disclosed peptides, the term “isolated” means a peptidethat is in a form that is relatively free from material such ascontaminating polypeptides, lipids, nucleic acids and other cellularmaterial that normally is associated with the peptide in a cell or thatis associated with the peptide in a library or in a crude preparation.

The disclosed peptides can have any suitable length. The disclosedpeptides can have, for example, a relatively short length of less thansix, seven, eight, nine, ten, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40 residues. Thedisclosed peptides also can be useful in the context of a significantlylonger sequence. For example, as disclosed herein, the CAR and CRKpeptides (SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, respectively) maintained theability to home when fused to a phage coat protein, confirming that thedisclosed peptides can have selective homing activity when embedded in alarger protein sequence. Thus, the peptides can have, for example, alength of up to 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 1000 or 2000residues. In particular embodiments, a peptide can have a length of atleast 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 or 200 residues. Infurther embodiments, a peptide can have a length of 5 to 200 residues, 5to 100 residues, 5 to 90 residues, 5 to 80 residues, 5 to 70 residues, 5to 60 residues, 5 to 50 residues, 5 to 40 residues, 5 to 30 residues, 5to 20 residues, 5 to 15 residues, 5 to 10 residues, 10 to 200 residues,10 to 100 residues, 10 to 90 residues, 10 to 80 residues, 10 to 70residues, 10 to 60 residues, 10 to 50 residues, 10 to 40 residues, 10 to30 residues, 10 to 20 residues, 20 to 200 residues, 20 to 100 residues,20 to 90 residues, 20 to 80 residues, 20 to 70 residues, 20 to 60residues, 20 to 50 residues, 20 to 40 residues or 20 to 30 residues. Asused herein, the term “residue” refers to an amino acid or amino acidanalog.

i. Peptide Variants

As discussed herein there are numerous variants of the CAR and CRKpeptides that are herein contemplated. In addition, to the knownfunctional variants there are derivatives of the peptides which can alsofunction in the disclosed methods and compositions. Protein and peptidevariants and derivatives are well understood by those of skill in theart and in can involve amino acid sequence modifications. For example,amino acid sequence modifications typically fall into one or more ofthree classes: substitutional, insertional or deletional variants.Insertions include amino and/or carboxyl terminal fusions as well asintrasequence insertions of single or multiple amino acid residues.Insertions ordinarily will be smaller insertions than those of amino orcarboxyl terminal fusions, for example, on the order of one to fourresidues.

Deletions are characterized by the removal of one or more amino acidresidues from the protein or peptide sequence. Typically, no more thanabout from 2 to 6 residues are deleted at any one site within theprotein or peptide molecule. These variants can be prepared by sitespecific mutagenesis of nucleotides in the DNA encoding the protein orpeptide, thereby producing DNA encoding the variant, and thereafterexpressing the DNA in recombinant cell culture. Techniques for makingsubstitution mutations at predetermined sites in DNA having a knownsequence are well known. Amino acid substitutions are typically ofsingle residues, but can occur at a number of different locations atonce; insertions usually will be on the order of about from 1 to 10amino acid residues; and deletions will range about from 1 to 10residues. Deletions or insertions preferably are made in adjacent pairs,i.e. a deletion of 2 residues or insertion of 2 residues. Substitutions,deletions, insertions or any combination thereof can be combined toarrive at a final construct. The mutations generally should not placethe sequence out of reading frame (unless a truncated peptide isintended) and preferably will not create complementary regions thatcould produce secondary mRNA structure. Substitutional variants arethose in which at least one residue has been removed and a differentresidue inserted in its place.

As used herein in reference to a specified amino acid sequence, a“conservative variant” is a sequence in which a first amino acid isreplaced by another amino acid or amino acid analog having at least onebiochemical property similar to that of the first amino acid; similarproperties include, for example, similar size, charge, hydrophobicity orhydrogen-bonding capacity.

As an example, a conservative variant can be a sequence in which a firstuncharged polar amino acid is conservatively substituted with a second(non-identical) uncharged polar amino acid such as cysteine, serine,threonine, tyrosine, glycine, glutamine or asparagine or an analogthereof. A conservative variant also can be a sequence in which a firstbasic amino acid is conservatively substituted with a second basic aminoacid such as arginine, lysine, histidine, 5-hydroxylysine,N-methyllysine or an analog thereof. Similarly, a conservative variantcan be a sequence in which a first hydrophobic amino acid isconservatively substituted with a second hydrophobic amino acid such asalanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, methionine, phenylalanineor tryptophan or an analog thereof. In the same way, a conservativevariant can be a sequence in which a first acidic amino acid isconservatively substituted with a second acidic amino acid such asaspartic acid or glutamic acid or an analog thereof; a sequence in whichan aromatic amino acid such as phenylalanine is conservativelysubstituted with a second aromatic amino acid or amino acid analog, forexample, tyrosine; or a sequence in which a first relatively small aminoacid such as alanine is substituted with a second relatively small aminoacid or amino acid analog such as glycine or valine or an analogthereof. For example, the replacement of one amino acid residue withanother that is biologically and/or chemically similar is known to thoseskilled in the art as a conservative substitution. For example, aconservative substitution would be replacing one hydrophobic residue foranother, or one polar residue for another. The substitutions includecombinations such as, for example, Gly, Ala; Val, Ile, Leu; Asp, Glu;Asn, Gln; Ser, Thr; Lys, Arg; and Phe, Tyr. Such conservativelysubstituted variations of each explicitly disclosed sequence areincluded within the mosaic polypeptides provided herein. It isunderstood that conservative variants of both CAR and CRK (SEQ ID NOs: 1and 2) encompass sequences containing one, two, three, four or moreamino acid substitutions relative to SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2, and that suchvariants can include naturally and non-naturally occurring amino acidanalogs.

Substantial changes in function or immunological identity are made byselecting substitutions that are less conservative, i.e., selectingresidues that differ more significantly in their effect on maintaining(a) the structure of the polypeptide backbone in the area of thesubstitution, for example as a sheet or helical conformation, (b) thecharge or hydrophobicity of the molecule at the target site or (c) thebulk of the side chain. The substitutions which in general are expectedto produce the greatest changes in the protein properties will be thosein which (a) a hydrophilic residue, e.g. seryl or threonyl, issubstituted for (or by) a hydrophobic residue, e.g. leucyl, isoleucyl,phenylalanyl, valyl or alanyl; (b) a cysteine or proline is substitutedfor (or by) any other residue; (c) a residue having an electropositiveside chain, e.g., lysyl, arginyl, or histidyl, is substituted for (orby) an electronegative residue, e.g., glutamyl or aspartyl; or (d) aresidue having a bulky side chain, e.g., phenylalanine, is substitutedfor (or by) one not having a side chain, e.g., glycine, in this case,(e) by increasing the number of sites for sulfation and/orglycosylation.

Substitutional or deletional mutagenesis can be employed to insert sitesfor N-glycosylation (Asn-X-Thr/Ser) or O-glycosylation (Ser or Thr).Deletions of cysteine or other labile residues also can be desirable.Deletions or substitutions of potential proteolysis sites, e.g. Arg, isaccomplished for example by deleting one of the basic residues orsubstituting one by glutaminyl or histidyl residues.

Certain post-translational derivatizations are the result of the actionof recombinant host cells on the expressed polypeptide. Glutaminyl andasparaginyl residues are frequently post-translationally deamidated tothe corresponding glutamyl and asparyl residues. Alternatively, theseresidues are deamidated under mildly acidic conditions. Otherpost-translational modifications include hydroxylation of proline andlysine, phosphorylation of hydroxyl groups of seryl or threonylresidues, methylation of the o-amino groups of lysine, arginine, andhistidine side chains (T. E. Creighton, Proteins: Structure andMolecular Properties, W.H. Freeman & Co., San Francisco pp 79-86[1983]), acetylation of the N-terminal amine and, in some instances,amidation of the C-terminal carboxyl.

It is understood that one way to define the variants and derivatives ofthe disclosed proteins herein is through defining the variants andderivatives in terms of homology/identity to specific known sequences.For example, SEQ ID NO: 1 sets forth a particular sequence of CAR andSEQ ID NO: 2 sets forth a particular sequence of CRK. Specificallydisclosed are variants of these and other proteins herein disclosedwhich have at least, 70% or 75% or 80% or 85% or 90% or 95% homology tothe stated sequence, or any percentage in between that represents achange of amino acid, including a substitution, addition, or deletion.Those of skill in the art readily understand how to determine thehomology of two proteins. For example, the homology can be calculatedafter aligning the two sequences so that the homology is at its highestlevel.

Another way of calculating homology can be performed by publishedalgorithms. Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison can beconducted by the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman Adv.Appl. Math. 2: 482 (1981), by the homology alignment algorithm ofNeedleman and Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443 (1970), by the search forsimilarity method of Pearson and Lipman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.85: 2444 (1988), by computerized implementations of these algorithms(GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics SoftwarePackage, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis.), or byinspection.

The same types of homology can be obtained for nucleic acids by forexample the algorithms disclosed in Zuker, M. Science 244:48-52, 1989,Jaeger et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:7706-7710, 1989, Jaeger etal. Methods Enzymol. 183:281-306, 1989 which are herein incorporated byreference for at least material related to nucleic acid alignment.

It is understood that the description of conservative mutations andhomology can be combined together in any combination, such asembodiments that have at least 70% homology to a particular sequencewherein the variants are conservative mutations.

As this specification discusses various proteins and protein sequencesit is understood that the nucleic acids that can encode those proteinsequences are also disclosed. This would include all degeneratesequences related to a specific protein sequence, i.e. all nucleic acidshaving a sequence that encodes one particular protein sequence as wellas all nucleic acids, including degenerate nucleic acids, encoding thedisclosed variants and derivatives of the protein sequences. Thus, whileeach particular nucleic acid sequence may not be written out herein, itis understood that each and every sequence is in fact disclosed anddescribed herein through the disclosed protein sequence.

It is understood that there are numerous amino acid and peptide analogswhich can be incorporated into the disclosed compositions. For example,there are numerous D amino acids or amino acids which have a differentfunctional substituent than those discussed above. The opposite stereoisomers of naturally occurring peptides are disclosed, as well as thestereo isomers of peptide analogs. These amino acids can readily beincorporated into polypeptide chains by charging tRNA molecules with theamino acid of choice and engineering genetic constructs that utilize,for example, amber codons, to insert the analog amino acid into apeptide chain in a site specific way (Thorson et al., Methods in Molec.Biol. 77:43-73 (1991), Zoller, Current Opinion in Biotechnology,3:348-354 (1992); Ibba, Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering Reviews13:197-216 (1995), Cahill et al., TIBS, 14(10):400-403 (1989); Benner,TIB Tech, 12:158-163 (1994); Ibba and Hennecke, Bio/technology,12:678-682 (1994) all of which are herein incorporated by reference atleast for material related to amino acid analogs).

Molecules can be produced that resemble peptides, but which are notconnected via a natural peptide linkage. For example, linkages for aminoacids or amino acid analogs can include CH₂NH—, —CH₂S—, —CH₂—CH₂—,—CH═CH—(cis and trans), —COCH₂—, —CH(OH)CH₂—, and —CHH₂SO— (These andothers can be found in Spatola, A. F. in Chemistry and Biochemistry ofAmino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins, B. Weinstein, eds., Marcel Dekker,New York, p. 267 (1983); Spatola, A. F., Vega Data (March 1983), Vol. 1,Issue 3, Peptide Backbone Modifications (general review); Morley, TrendsPharm Sci (1980) pp. 463-468; Hudson, D. et al., Int J Pept Prot Res14:177-185 (1979) (—CH₂NH—, CH₂CH₂—); Spatola et al. Life Sci38:1243-1249 (1986) (—CH H₂—S); Hann J. Chem. Soc Perkin Trans. I307-314 (1982) (—CH—CH—, cis and trans); Almquist et al. J. Med. Chem.23:1392-1398 (1980) (—COCH₂—); Jennings-White et al. Tetrahedron Lett23:2533 (1982) (—COCH₂—); Szelke et al. European Appln, EP 45665 CA(1982): 97:39405 (1982) (—CH(OH)CH₂—); Holladay et al. Tetrahedron. Lett24:4401-4404 (1983) (—C(OH)CH₂—); and Hruby Life Sci 31:189-199 (1982)(—CH₂—S—); each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Aparticularly preferred non-peptide linkage is —CH₂NH—. It is understoodthat peptide analogs can have more than one atom between the bond atoms,such as b-alanine, g-aminobutyric acid, and the like.

Amino acid analogs and analogs and peptide analogs often have enhancedor desirable properties, such as, more economical production, greaterchemical stability, enhanced pharmacological properties (half-life,absorption, potency, efficacy, etc.), altered specificity (e.g., abroad-spectrum of biological activities), reduced antigenicity, andothers.

D-amino acids can be used to generate more stable peptides, because Damino acids are not recognized by peptidases and such. Systematicsubstitution of one or more amino acids of a consensus sequence with aD-amino acid of the same type (e.g., D-lysine in place of L-lysine) canbe used to generate more stable peptides. Cysteine residues can be usedto cyclize or attach two or more peptides together. This can bebeneficial to constrain peptides into particular conformations. (Rizoand Gierasch Ann. Rev. Biochem. 61:387 (1992), incorporated herein byreference).

Also disclosed are chimeric proteins containing a disclosed peptidefused to a heterologous protein. In one embodiment, the heterologousprotein can have a therapeutic activity such as cytokine activity,cytotoxic activity or pro-apoptotic activity. In a further embodiment,the heterologous protein can be an antibody or antigen-binding fragmentthereof. In other embodiments, the chimeric protein includes a peptidecontaining the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, or aconservative variant or peptidomimetic thereof, fused to a heterologousprotein. The term “heterologous,” as used herein in reference to aprotein fused to the disclosed peptides, means a protein derived from asource other than the gene encoding the peptide or from which thepeptidomimetic is derived. The disclosed chimeric proteins can have avariety of lengths including, but not limited to, a length of less than100 residues, less than 200 residues, less than 300 residues, less than400 residues, less than 500 residues, less than 800 residues or lessthan 1000 residues.

As used herein, “chimera” and “chimeric” refer to any combination ofsequences derived from two or more sources. This includes, for example,from single moiety of subunit (e.g., nucleotide, amino acid) up toentire source sequences added, inserted and/or substituted into othersequences. Chimeras can be, for example, additive, where one or moreportions of one sequence are added to one or more portions of one ormore other sequences; substitutional, where one or more portions of onesequence are substituted for one or more portions of one or more othersequences; or a combination. “Conservative substitutional chimeras” canbe used to refer to substitutional chimeras where the source sequencesfor the chimera have some structural and/or functional relationship andwhere portions of sequences having similar or analogous structure and/orfunction are substituted for each other. Typical chimeric and humanizedantibodies are examples of conservative substitutional chimeras.

Also disclosed are bifunctional peptides which contains a homing peptidefused to a second peptide having a separate function. Such bifunctionalpeptides have at least two functions conferred by different portions ofthe full-length molecule and can, for example, display anti-angiogenicactivity or pro-apoptotic activity in addition to selective homingactivity.

Also disclosed are isolated multivalent peptides that includes at leasttwo subsequences each independently containing a homing molecule (forexample, the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2, or a conservativevariant or peptidomimetic thereof). The multivalent peptide can have,for example, at least three, at least five or at least ten of suchsubsequences each independently containing a homing molecule (forexample, the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2, or a conservativevariant or peptidomimetic thereof). In particular embodiments, themultivalent peptide can have two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,nine, ten, fifteen or twenty identical or non-identical subsequences. Ina further embodiment, the multivalent peptide can contain identicalsubsequences, which consist of a homing molecule (for example, the aminoacid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2, or a conservative variant orpeptidomimetic thereof). In a further embodiment, the multivalentpeptide contains contiguous identical or non-identical subsequences,which are not separated by any intervening amino acids. In yet furtherembodiments, the multivalent peptide can be cyclic or otherwiseconformationally constrained. In one example, the peptide can becircularized or cyclized via a disulfide bond.

As used herein, the term “peptide” is used broadly to mean peptides,proteins, fragments of proteins and the like. The term “peptidomimetic,”as used herein, means a peptide-like molecule that has the activity ofthe peptide upon which it is structurally based. Such peptidomimeticsinclude chemically modified peptides, peptide-like molecules containingnon-naturally occurring amino acids, and peptoids and have an activitysuch as selective homing activity of the peptide upon which thepeptidomimetic is derived (see, for example, Goodman and Ro,Peptidomimetics for Drug Design, in “Burger's Medicinal Chemistry andDrug Discovery” Vol. 1 (ed. M. E. Wolff; John Wiley & Sons 1995), pages803-861).

A variety of peptidomimetics are known in the art including, forexample, peptide-like molecules which contain a constrained amino acid,a non-peptide component that mimics peptide secondary structure, or anamide bond isostere. A peptidomimetic that contains a constrained,non-naturally occurring amino acid can include, for example, anα-methylated amino acid; α,α-dialkylglycine or α-aminocycloalkanecarboxylic acid; an N^(α)—C^(α) cyclized amino acid; anN^(α).-methylated amino acid; a β- or γ-amino cycloalkane carboxylicacid; an α,β-unsaturated amino acid; a β,β-dimethyl or β-methyl aminoacid; a β-substituted-2,3-methano amino acid; an N—C^(ε) or C^(α)—C^(Δ)cyclized amino acid; a substituted proline or another amino acidmimetic. A peptidomimetic which mimics peptide secondary structure cancontain, for example, a non-peptidic β-turn mimic; γ-turn mimic; mimicof β-sheet structure; or mimic of helical structure, each of which iswell known in the art. A peptidomimetic also can be a peptide-likemolecule which contains, for example, an amide bond isostere such as aretro-inverso modification; reduced amide bond; methylenethioether ormethylene-sulfoxide bond; methylene ether bond; ethylene bond; thioamidebond; trans-olefin or fluoroolefin bond; 1,5-disubstituted tetrazolering; ketomethylene or fluoroketomethylene bond or another amideisostere. One skilled in the art understands that these and otherpeptidomimetics are encompassed within the meaning of the term“peptidomimetic” as used herein.

Methods for identifying a peptidomimetic are well known in the art andinclude, for example, the screening of databases that contain librariesof potential peptidomimetics. As an example, the Cambridge StructuralDatabase contains a collection of greater than 300,000 compounds thathave known crystal structures (Allen et al., Acta Crystalloqr. SectionB, 35:2331 (1979)). This structural depository is continually updated asnew crystal structures are determined and can be screened for compoundshaving suitable shapes, for example, the same shape as a disclosedpeptide, as well as potential geometrical and chemical complementarityto a target molecule. Where no crystal structure of a peptide or atarget molecule that binds the peptide is available, a structure can begenerated using, for example, the program CONCORD (Rusinko et al., J.Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci. 29:251 (1989)). Another database, the AvailableChemicals Directory (Molecular Design Limited, Information Systems; SanLeandro Calif.), contains about 100,000 compounds that are commerciallyavailable and also can be searched to identify potential peptidomimeticsof a peptide, for example, with activity in selectively homing to tumorstroma, wounds, and plasma clots.

If desired, an isolated peptide, or a homing molecule as discussedfurther elsewhere herein, can be cyclic or otherwise conformationallyconstrained. As used herein, a “conformationally constrained” molecule,such as a peptide, is one in which the three-dimensional structure ismaintained substantially in one spatial arrangement over time.Conformationally constrained molecules can have improved properties suchas increased affinity, metabolic stability, membrane permeability orsolubility. Methods of conformational constraint are well known in theart and include cyclization as discussed further elsewhere herein.

As used herein in reference to a peptide, the term “cyclic” means astructure including an intramolecular bond between two non-adjacentamino acids or amino acid analogues. The cyclization can be effectedthrough a covalent or non-covalent bond. Intramolecular bonds include,but are not limited to, backbone to backbone, side-chain to backbone andside-chain to side-chain bonds. A preferred method of cyclization isthrough formation of a disulfide bond between the side-chains ofnon-adjacent amino acids or amino acid analogs. Residues capable offorming a disulfide bond include, for example, cysteine (Cys),penicillamine (Pen), β,β-pentamethylene cysteine (Pmc),β,β-pentamethylene-β-mercaptopropionic acid (Pmp) and functionalequivalents thereof.

A peptide also can cyclize, for example, via a lactam bond, which canutilize a side-chain group of one amino acid or analog thereof to form acovalent attachment to the N-terminal amine of the amino-terminalresidue. Residues capable of forming a lactam bond include aspartic acid(Asp), glutamic acid (Glu), lysine (Lys), ornithine (orn),α,β-diamino-propionic acid, γ-amino-adipic acid (Adp) andM-(aminomethyl)benzoic acid (Mamb). Cyclization additionally can beeffected, for example, through the formation of a lysinonorleucine bondbetween lysine (Lys) and leucine (Leu) residues or a dityrosine bondbetween two tyrosine (Tyr) residues. The skilled person understands thatthese and other bonds can be included in a cyclic peptide.

B. Conjugates

Disclosed are conjugates comprising a moiety and a homing molecule, suchas a peptide as disclosed herein. For example, disclosed are conjugatescontaining a therapeutic agent linked to a homing molecule thatselectively homes to regenerating tissue, wound tissue, or tumors.Disclosed conjugates can comprise, for example, a moiety linked to apeptide comprising an amino acid segment comprising, for example, theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, or the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 having one or more conservativeamino acid substitutions.

Any form or type of homing molecule as disclosed herein can be used inthe disclosed conjugates. The moiety can be any molecule. Preferably themoiety is a molecule that is usefully targeted to the target of thehoming molecule. For example, moieties that affect the target, such asmoieties with therapeutic effect, or that facilitate detection,visualization or imaging of the target, such as fluorescent molecule orradionuclides. Disclosed peptides that home to regenerating tissue,wound tissue, or tumors can be usefully combined with, for example,moieties that can, for example, promote wound healing, treatinflammation or pain, or treat cancer. A variety of therapeutic agentsare useful in the conjugates including, without limitation, a moietythat is an anti-angiogenic agent, a pro-angiogenic agent, a cancerchemotherapeutic agent, a cytotoxic agent, an anti-inflammatory agent,an anti-arthritic agent, a polypeptide, a nucleic acid molecule, a smallmolecule, a fluorophore, fluorescein, rhodamine, a radionuclide,indium-111, technetium-99, carbon-11, carbon-13, or a combination.

A conjugate containing multiple homing molecules can include, forexample, two or more, three or more, five or more, ten or more, twentyor more, thirty or more, forty or more, fifty or more, 100 or more, 200or more, 300 or more, 400 or more, 500 or more, or 1000 or more homingmolecules. In one embodiment, the conjugate includes homing moleculesthat all have an identical amino acid sequence. In another embodiment,the conjugate includes homing molecules having two or more non-identicalamino acid sequences. For example, SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 can beused separately or together. Moieties useful in a conjugateincorporating multiple homing molecules include, without limitation,phage, retroviruses, adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses and otherviruses, cells, liposomes, polymeric matrices, non-polymeric matrices,particles such as gold particles, microdevices, nanodevices, andnano-scale semiconductor materials.

A conjugate can contain, for example, a liposome or other polymericmatrix linked to at least two homing molecules. If desired, the liposomeor other polymeric matrix can be linked to at least ten, at least 100 orat least 1000 homing molecules. Liposomes can be useful in suchconjugates; liposomes consist of phospholipids or other lipids, arenontoxic, physiologically acceptable and metabolizable carriers that arerelatively simple to make and administer (Gregoriadis, LiposomeTechnology, Vol. 1 (CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. (1984)). The liposome orother polymeric matrix can optionally include another component such as,without limitation, a therapeutic agent, cancer chemotherapeutic agent,cytotoxic agent, anti-angiogenic agent, polypeptide or nucleic acidmolecule.

Components of the disclosed conjugates can be combined, linked and/orcoupled in any suitable manner. For example, moieties and homingmolecules can be associated covalently or non-covalently, directly orindirectly, with or without a linker moiety.

C. Moieties

Disclosed are compositions and methods of directing a moiety to atarget. As used herein, the term “moiety” is used broadly to mean aphysical, chemical, or biological material that generally imparts abiologically useful function to a linked molecule. A moiety can be anynatural or nonnatural material including, without limitation, abiological material, such as a cell, phage or other virus; an organicchemical such as a small molecule; a radionuclide; a nucleic acidmolecule or oligonucleotide; a polypeptide; or a peptide. Usefulmoieties include, yet are not limited to an anti-angiogenic agent, apro-angiogenic agent, a cancer chemotherapeutic agent, a cytotoxicagent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-arthritic agent, apolypeptide, a nucleic acid molecule, a small molecule, a fluorophore,fluorescein, rhodamine, a radionuclide, indium-111, technetium-99,carbon-11, carbon-13, or a combination. Useful moieties further include,without limitation, phage and other viruses, cells, liposomes, polymericmatrices, non-polymeric matrices or particles such as gold particles,microdevices and nanodevices, and nano-scale semiconductor materials.These and other moieties known in the art can be components of aconjugate.

1. Therapeutic Agents

The moiety incorporated into a conjugate can be a therapeutic agent. Asused herein, the term “therapeutic agent” means a molecule which has oneor more biological activities in a normal or pathologic tissue. Avariety of therapeutic agents can be included in a conjugate.

The conjugates disclosed herein can also be used to treat wounds ortissue injuries. Moieties useful for this purpose can include moleculesbelonging to several basic groups including anti-inflammatory agentswhich prevent inflammation, restenosis preventing drugs which preventtissue growth, anti-thrombogenic drugs which inhibit or controlformation of thrombus or thrombolytics, and bioactive agents whichregulate tissue growth and enhance healing of the tissue.

Examples of active agents include but are not limited to steroids,fibronectin, anti-clotting drugs, anti-platelet function drugs, drugswhich prevent smooth muscle cell growth on inner surface wall of vessel,heparin, heparin fragments, aspirin, coumadin, tissue plasminogenactivator (TPA), urokinase, hirudin, streptokinase, antiproliferatives(methotrexate, cisplatin, fluorouracil, Adriamycin), antioxidants(ascorbic acid, beta carotene, vitamin E), antimetabolites, thromboxaneinhibitors, non-steroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, betaand calcium channel blockers, genetic materials including DNA and RNAfragments, complete expression genes, antibodies, lymphokines, growthfactors, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, laminin, elastin, collagen, andintegrins.

Useful therapeutic agents also can be antimicrobial peptides. This canbe particularly useful for targeting a wound or other infected sites.Thus, also disclosed are conjugates in which a homing molecule thatselectively homes to tumor stroma, wounds, or plasma clots and interactswith fibrin-fibronectin is linked to an antimicrobial peptide, where theconjugate is selectively internalized and exhibits a high toxicity tothe targeted area, and where the antimicrobial peptide has low mammaliancell toxicity when not linked to the homing molecule. As used herein,the term “antimicrobial peptide” means a naturally occurring orsynthetic peptide having antimicrobial activity, which is the ability tokill or slow the growth of one or more microbes and which has lowmammalian cell toxicity when not linked to a homing molecule. Anantimicrobial peptide can, for example, kill or slow the growth of oneor more strains of bacteria including a Gram-positive or Gram-negativebacteria, or a fungi or protozoa. Thus, an antimicrobial peptide canhave, for example, bacteriostatic or bacteriocidal activity against, forexample, one or more strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosaor Staphylococcus aureus. An antimicrobial peptide can have biologicalactivity due to, for example, the ability to form ion channels throughmembrane bilayers as a consequence of self-aggregation.

Antimicrobial peptide can be highly basic and can have a linear orcyclic structure. As discussed further below, an antimicrobial peptidecan have an amphipathic .alpha.-helical structure (see U.S. Pat. No.5,789,542; Javadpour et al., J. Med. Chem. 39:3107-3113 (1996); andBlondelle and Houghten, Biochem. 31: 12688-12694 (1992)). Anantimicrobial peptide also can be, for example, a β-strand/sheet-formingpeptide as described in Mancheno et al., J. Peptide Res. 51:142-148(1998).

An antimicrobial peptide can be a naturally occurring or syntheticpeptide. Naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides have been isolatedfrom biological sources such as bacteria, insects, amphibians, andmammals and are thought to represent inducible defense proteins that canprotect the host organism from bacterial infection. Naturally occurringantimicrobial peptides include the gramicidins, magainins, mellitins,defensins and cecropins (see, for example, Maloy and Kari, Biopolymers37:105-122 (1995); Alvarez-Bravo et al., Biochem. J. 302:535-538 (1994);Bessalle et al., FEBS 274:-151-155 (1990.); and Blondelle and Houghtenin Bristol (Ed.), Annual Reports in Medicinal Chemistry pages 159-168Academic Press, San Diego). An antimicrobial peptide also can be ananalog of a natural peptide, especially one that retains or enhancesamphipathicity (see below).

An antimicrobial peptide incorporated into a conjugate can have lowmammalian cell toxicity when not linked to a tumor homing molecule.Mammalian cell toxicity readily can be assessed using routine assays. Asan example, mammalian cell toxicity can be assayed by lysis of humanerythrocytes in vitro as described in Javadpour et al., supra, 1996. Anantimicrobial peptide having low mammalian cell toxicity is not lytic tohuman erythrocytes or requires concentrations of greater than 100 μM forlytic activity, preferably concentrations greater than 200, 300, 500 or1000 μM.

In one embodiment, disclosed are conjugates in which the antimicrobialpeptide portion promotes disruption of mitochondrial membranes wheninternalized by eukaryotic cells. In particular, such an antimicrobialpeptide preferentially disrupts mitochondrial membranes as compared toeukaryotic membranes. Mitochondrial membranes, like bacterial membranesbut in contrast to eukaryotic plasma membranes, have a high content ofnegatively charged phospholipids. An antimicrobial peptide can beassayed for activity in disrupting mitochondrial membranes using, forexample, an assay for mitochondrial swelling or another assay well knownin the art. _(D)(KLAKLAK)₂, (SEQ ID NO: 19) for example, is anantimicrobial peptide which induces marked mitochondrial swelling at aconcentration of 10 μM, significantly less than the concentrationrequired to kill eukaryotic cells.

An antimicrobial peptide that induces significant mitochondrial swellingat, for example, 50 μM, 40 μM, 30 μM, 20 μM, 10 μM, or less, isconsidered a peptide that promotes disruption of mitochondrialmembranes.

An antimicrobial peptide can include, for example, the sequence(KLAKLAK)₂ (SEQ ID NO: 20), (KLAKKLA)₂ (SEQ ID NO: 21), (KAAKKAA)₂ (SEQID NO: 22), or (KLGKKLG)₃ (SEQ ID NO: 23), and, in one embodiment,includes the sequence _(D)(KLAKLAK)₂ (SEQ ID NO: 19).

Antimicrobial peptides can have random coil conformations in diluteaqueous solutions, yet high levels of helicity can be induced byhelix-promoting solvents and amphipathic media such as micelles,synthetic bilayers or cell membranes. α-Helical structures are wellknown in the art, with an ideal α-helix characterized by having 3.6residues per turn and a translation of 1.5 Å per residue (5.4 Å perturn; see Creighton, Proteins: Structures and Molecular Properties W. HFreeman, New York (1984)). In an amphipathic α-helical structure, polarand non-polar amino acid residues are aligned into an amphipathic helix,which is an α-helix in which the hydrophobic amino acid residues arepredominantly on one face, with hydrophilic residues predominantly onthe opposite face when the peptide is viewed along the helical axis.

Antimicrobial peptides of widely varying sequence have been isolated,sharing an amphipathic α-helical structure as a common feature (Saberwalet al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1197:109-131 (1994)). Analogs of nativepeptides with amino acid substitutions predicted to enhanceamphipathicity and helicity typically have increased antimicrobialactivity. In general, analogs with increased antimicrobial activity alsohave increased cytotoxicity against mammalian cells (Maloy et al.,Biopolymers 37:105-122 (1995)).

As used herein in reference to an antimicrobial peptide, the term“amphipathic α-helical structure” means an α-helix with a hydrophilicface containing several polar residues at physiological pH and ahydrophobic face containing nonpolar residues. A polar residue can be,for example, a lysine or arginine residue, while a nonpolar residue canbe, for example, a leucine or alanine residue. An antimicrobial peptidehaving an amphipathic α-helical structure generally has an equivalentnumber of polar and nonpolar residues within the amphipathic domain anda sufficient number of basic residues to give the peptide an overallpositive charge at neutral pH (Saberwal et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta1197:109-131 (1994)). One skilled in the art understands thathelix-promoting amino acids such as leucine and alanine can beadvantageously included in an antimicrobial peptide (see, for example,Creighton, supra, 1984). Synthetic, antimicrobial peptides having anamphipathic α-helical structure are known in the art, for example, asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,789,542 to McLaughlin and Becker.

It is understood by one skilled in the art of medicinal oncology thatthese and other agents are useful therapeutic agents, which can be usedseparately or together in the disclosed conjugates and methods. Thus, itis understood that a conjugate can contain one or more of suchtherapeutic agents and that additional components can be included aspart of the conjugate, if desired. As a non-limiting example, it can bedesirable in some cases to utilize an oligopeptide spacer between thehoming molecule and the therapeutic agent (Fitzpatrick and Garnett,Anticancer Drug Des. 10:1-9 (1995)).

Other useful agents include thrombolytics, aspirin, anticoagulants,painkillers and tranquilizers, beta-blockers, ace-inhibitors, nitrates,rhythm-stabilizing drugs, and diuretics. The disclosed conjugates canuse any of these or similar agents.

In some embodiments, a conjugate can contains a cancer chemotherapeuticagent. As used herein, a “cancer chemotherapeutic agent” is a chemicalagent that inhibits the proliferation, growth, life-span or metastaticactivity of cancer cells. Such a cancer chemotherapeutic agent can be,without limitation, a taxane such as docetaxel; an anthracyclin such asdoxorubicin; an alkylating agent; a vinca alkaloid; an anti-metabolite;a platinum agent such as cisplatin or carboplatin; a steroid such asmethotrexate; an antibiotic such as adriamycin; a isofamide; or aselective estrogen receptor modulator; an antibody such as trastuzumab.

Taxanes are chemotherapeutic agents useful in the conjugates. Usefultaxanes include, without limitation, docetaxel (Taxotere; AventisPharmaceuticals, Inc.; Parsippany, N.J.) and paclitaxel (Taxol;Bristol-Myers Squibb; Princeton, N.J.). See, for example, Chan et al.,J. Clin. Oncol. 17:2341-2354 (1999), and Paridaens et al., J. Clin.Oncol. 18:724 (2000).

A cancer chemotherapeutic agent useful in a conjugate also can be ananthracyclin such as doxorubicin, idarubicin or daunorubicin.Doxorubicin is a commonly used cancer chemotherapeutic agent and can beuseful, for example, for treating breast cancer (Stewart and Ratain, In:“Cancer: Principles and practice of oncology” 5th ed., chap. 19 (eds.DeVita, Jr., et al.; J. P. Lippincott 1997); Harris et al., In “Cancer:Principles and practice of oncology,” supra, 1997). In addition,doxorubicin has anti-angiogenic activity (Folkman, Nature Biotechnology15:510 (1997); Steiner, In “Angiogenesis: Key principles-Science,technology and medicine,” pp. 449-454 (eds. Steiner et al.; BirkhauserVerlag, 1992)), which can contribute to its effectiveness in treatingcancer.

An alkylating agent such as melphalan or chlorambucil also can be acancer chemotherapeutic agent useful in a conjugate. Similarly, a vincaalkaloid such as vindesine, vinblastine or vinorelbine; or anantimetabolite such as 5-fluorouracil, 5-fluorouridine or a derivativethereof can be a cancer chemotherapeutic agent useful in a conjugate.

A platinum agent also can be a cancer chemotherapeutic agent useful inthe conjugates. Such a platinum agent can be, for example, cisplatin orcarboplatin as described, for example, in Crown, Seminars in Oncol.28:28-37 (2001). Other cancer chemotherapeutic agents useful in aconjugate include, without limitation, methotrexate, mitomycin-C,adriamycin, ifosfamide and ansamycins.

A cancer chemotherapeutic agent for treatment of breast cancer and otherhormonally-dependent cancers also can be an agent that antagonizes theeffect of estrogen, such as a selective estrogen receptor modulator oran anti-estrogen. The selective estrogen receptor modulator, tamoxifen,is a cancer chemotherapeutic agent that can be used in a conjugate fortreatment of breast cancer (Fisher et al., J. Natl. Cancer Instit.90:1371-1388 (1998)).

A therapeutic agent useful in a conjugate can be an antibody such as ahumanized monoclonal antibody. As an example, the anti-epidermal growthfactor receptor 2 (HER2) antibody, trastuzumab (Herceptin; Genentech,South San Francisco, Calif.) is a therapeutic agent useful in aconjugate for treating HER2/neu overexpressing breast cancers (White etal., Annu. Rev. Med. 52:125-141 (2001)).

Useful therapeutic agents also can be a cytotoxic agent, which, as usedherein, can be any molecule that directly or indirectly promotes celldeath. Useful cytotoxic agents include, without limitation, smallmolecules, polypeptides, peptides, peptidomimetics, nucleicacid-molecules, cells and viruses. As non-limiting examples, usefulcytotoxic agents include cytotoxic small molecules such as doxorubicin,docetaxel or trastuzumab; antimicrobial peptides such as those describedfurther below; pro-apoptotic polypeptides such as caspases and toxins,for example, caspase-8; diphtheria toxin A chain, Pseudomonas exotoxinA, cholera toxin, ligand fusion toxins such as DAB389EGF, ricinuscommunis toxin (ricin); and cytotoxic cells such as cytotoxic T cells.See, for example, Martin et al., Cancer Res. 60:3218-3224 (2000);Kreitman and Pastan, Blood 90:252-259 (1997); Allam et al., Cancer Res.57:2615-2618 (1997); and Osborne and Coronado-Heinsohn, Cancer J. Sci.Am. 2:175 (1996). One skilled in the art understands that these andadditional cytotoxic agents described herein or known in the art can beuseful in the disclosed conjugates and methods.

In one embodiment, a therapeutic agent can be a therapeutic polypeptide.As used herein, a therapeutic polypeptide can be any polypeptide with abiologically useful function. Useful therapeutic polypeptides encompass,without limitation, cytokines, antibodies, cytotoxic polypeptides;pro-apoptotic polypeptides; and anti-angiogenic polypeptides. Asnon-limiting examples, useful therapeutic polypeptides can be a cytokinesuch as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), tumor necrosis factor-β(TNF-β), granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF),granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), interferonα. (IFN-α);interferon .gamma. (IFN-γ), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-2 (IL-2),interleukin-3 (IL-3), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6),interleukin-7 (IL-7), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-12 (IL-12),lymphotactin (LTN) or dendritic cell chemokine 1 (DC-CK1); an anti-HER2antibody or fragment thereof; a cytotoxic polypeptide including a toxinor caspase, for example, diphtheria toxin A chain, Pseudomonas exotoxinA, cholera toxin, a ligand fusion toxin such as DAB389EGF or ricin; oran anti-angiogenic polypeptide such as angiostatin, endostatin,thrombospondin, platelet factor 4; anastellin; or one of those describedfurther herein or known in the art (see below). It is understood thatthese and other polypeptides with biological activity can be a“therapeutic polypeptide.”

A therapeutic agent useful in a conjugate also can be an anti-angiogenicagent. As used herein, the term “anti-angiogenic agent” means a moleculethat reduces or prevents angiogenesis, which is the growth anddevelopment of blood vessels. The conjugates can be used to treat ordiagnose any disease, condition, or disorder associated withangiogenesis. For example, macular degeneration and diabetic vascularcomplications can be diagnosed and/or treated. A variety ofanti-angiogenic agents can be prepared by routine methods. Suchanti-angiogenic agents include, without limitation, small molecules;proteins such as dominant negative forms of angiogenic factors,transcription factors and antibodies; peptides; and nucleic acidmolecules including ribozymes, antisense oligonucleotides, and nucleicacid molecules encoding, for example, dominant negative forms ofangiogenic factors and receptors, transcription factors, and antibodiesand antigen-binding fragments thereof. See, for example, Hagedorn andBikfalvi, Crit. Rev. Oncol. Hematol. 34:89-110 (2000), and Kirsch etal., J. Neurooncol. 50:149-163 (2000).

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to be importantfor angiogenesis in many types of cancer, including breast cancerangiogenesis in vivo (Borgstrom et al., Anticancer Res. 19:4213-4214(1999)). The biological effects of VEGF include stimulation ofendothelial cell proliferation, survival, migration and tube formation,and regulation of vascular permeability. An anti-angiogenic agent canbe, for example, an inhibitor or neutralizing antibody that reduces theexpression or signaling of VEGF or another angiogenic factor, forexample, an anti-VEGF neutralizing monoclonal antibody (Borgstrom etal., supra, 1999). An anti-angiogenic agent also can inhibit anotherangiogenic factor such as a member of the fibroblast growth factorfamily such as FGF-1 (acidic), FGF-2 (basic), FGF-4 or FGF-5 (Slavin etal., Cell Biol. Int. 19:431-444 (1995); Folkman and Shing, J. Biol.Chem. 267:10931-10934 (1992)) or an angiogenic factor such asangiopoietin-1, a factor that signals through the endothelialcell-specific Tie2 receptor tyrosine kinase (Davis et al., Cell87:1161-1169 (1996); and Suri et al., Cell 87:1171-1180 (1996)), or thereceptor of one of these angiogenic factors. It is understood that avariety of mechanisms can act to inhibit activity of an angiogenicfactor including, without limitation, direct inhibition of receptorbinding, indirect inhibition by reducing secretion of the angiogenicfactor into the extracellular space, or inhibition of expression,function or signaling of the angiogenic factor.

A variety of other molecules also can function as anti-angiogenic agentsincluding, without limitation, angiostatin; a kringle peptide ofangiostatin; endostatin; anastellin, heparin-binding fragments offibronectin; modified forms of antithrombin; collagenase inhibitors;basement membrane turnover inhibitors; angiostatic steroids; plateletfactor 4 and fragments and peptides thereof; thrombospondin andfragments and peptides thereof; and doxorubicin (O'Reilly et al., Cell79:315-328 (1994)); O'Reilly et al., Cell 88:277-285 (1997); Homandberget al., Am. J. Path. 120:327-332 (1985); Homandberg et-al., Biochim.Biophys. Acta 874:61-71 (1986); and O'Reilly et al., Science285:1926-1928 (1999)). Commercially available anti-angiogenic agentsinclude, for example, angiostatin, endostatin, metastatin and 2ME2(EntreMed; Rockville, Md.); anti-VEGF antibodies such as Avastin(Genentech; South San Francisco, Calif.); and VEGFR-2 inhibitors such asSU5416, a small molecule inhibitor of VEGFR-2 (SUGEN; South SanFrancisco, Calif.) and SU6668 (SUGEN), a small molecule inhibitor ofVEGFR-2, platelet derived growth factor and fibroblast growth factor Ireceptor. It is understood that these and other anti-angiogenic agentscan be prepared by routine methods and are encompassed by the term“anti-angiogenic agent” as used herein.

2. Detectable Agents

The moiety in the disclosed conjugates can also be a detectable agent. Avariety of detectable agents are useful in the disclosed methods. Asused herein, the term “detectable agent” refers to any molecule whichcan be detected. Useful detectable agents include moieties that can beadministered in vivo and subsequently detected. Detectable agents usefulin the disclosed conjugates and imaging methods include yet are notlimited to radiolabels and fluorescent molecules. The detectable agentcan be, for example, any moiety that facilitates detection, eitherdirectly or indirectly, preferably by a non-invasive and/or in vivovisualization technique. For example, a detectable agent can bedetectable by any known imaging techniques, including, for example, aradiological technique. Detectable agents can include, for example, acontrasting agent, e.g., where the contrasting agent is ionic ornon-ionic. In some embodiments, for instance, the detectable agentcomprises a tantalum compound and/or a barium compound, e.g., bariumsulfate. In some embodiments, the detectable agent comprises iodine,such as radioactive iodine. In some embodiments, for instance, thedetectable agent comprises an organic iodo acid, such as iodo carboxylicacid, triiodophenol, iodoform, and/or tetraiodoethylene. In someembodiments, the detectable agent comprises a non-radioactive detectableagent, e.g., a non-radioactive isotope. For example, Gd can be used as anon-radioactive detectable agent in certain embodiments.

Other examples of detectable agents include moieties which emit or canbe caused to emit detectable radiation (e.g., fluorescence excitation,radioactive decay, spin resonance excitation, etc.), moieties whichaffect local electromagnetic fields (e.g., magnetic, ferromagnetic,ferromagnetic, paramagnetic, and/or superparamagnetic species), moietieswhich absorb or scatter radiation energy (e.g., chromophores and/orfluorophores), quantum dots, heavy elements and/or compounds thereof.See, e.g., detectable agents described in U.S. Publication No.2004/0009122. Other examples of detectable agents include aproton-emitting moiety, a radiopaque moiety, and/or a radioactivemoiety, such as a radionuclide like Tc-99m and/or Xe-13. Such moietiescan be used as a radiopharmaceutical. In still other embodiments, thedisclosed compositions can comprise one or more different types ofdetectable agents, including any combination of the detectable agentsdisclosed herein.

Useful fluorescent moieties include fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC),5,6-carboxymethyl fluorescein, Texas red,nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl (NBD), coumarin, dansyl chloride,rhodamine, amino-methyl coumarin (AMCA), Eosin, Erythrosin, BODIPY®,Cascade Blue®, Oregon Green®, pyrene, lissamine, xanthenes, acridines,oxazines, phycoerythrin, macrocyclic chelates of lanthanide ions such asQuantum Dye™, fluorescent energy transfer dyes, such as thiazoleorange-ethidium heterodimer, and the cyanine dyes Cy3, Cy3.5, Cy5, Cy5.5and Cy7. Examples of other specific fluorescent labels include3-Hydroxypyrene 5,8,10-Tri Sulfonic acid, 5-Hydroxy Tryptamine (5-HT),Acid Fuchsin, Alizarin Complexon, Alizarin Red, Allophycocyanin,Aminocoumarin, Anthroyl Stearate, Astrazon Brilliant Red 4G, AstrazonOrange R, Astrazon Red 6B, Astrazon Yellow 7 GLL, Atabrine, Auramine,Aurophosphine, Aurophosphine G, BAO 9 (Bisaminophenyloxadiazole), BCECF,Berberine Sulphate, Bisbenzamide, Blancophor FFG Solution, BlancophorSV, Bodipy F1, Brilliant Sulphoflavin FF, Calcien Blue, Calcium Green,Calcofluor RW Solution, Calcofluor White, Calcophor White ABT Solution,Calcophor White Standard Solution, Carbostyryl, Cascade Yellow,Catecholamine, Chinacrine, Coriphosphine O, Coumarin-Phalloidin, CY3.18, CY5.1 8, CY7, Dans (1-Dimethyl Amino Naphaline 5 Sulphonic Acid),Dansa (Diamino Naphtyl Sulphonic Acid), Dansyl NH—CH3, Diamino PhenylOxydiazole (DAO), Dimethylamino-5-Sulphonic acid, DipyrrometheneboronDifluoride, Diphenyl Brilliant Flavine 7GFF, Dopamine, Erythrosin ITC,Euchrysin, FIF (Formaldehyde Induced Fluorescence), Flazo Orange, Fluo3, Fluorescamine, Fura-2, Genacryl Brilliant Red B, Genacryl BrilliantYellow 10GF, Genacryl Pink 3G, Genacryl Yellow 5GF, Gloxalic Acid,Granular Blue, Haematoporphyrin, Indo-1, Intrawhite Cf Liquid, LeucophorPAF, Leucophor SF, Leucophor WS, Lissamine Rhodamine B200 (RD200),Lucifer Yellow CH, Lucifer Yellow VS, Magdala Red, Marina Blue, MaxilonBrilliant Flavin 10 GFF, Maxilon Brilliant Flavin 8 GFF, MPS (MethylGreen Pyronine Stilbene), Mithramycin, NBD Amine, Nitrobenzoxadidole,Noradrenaline, Nuclear Fast Red, Nuclear Yellow, Nylosan BrilliantFlavin E8G, Oxadiazole, Pacific Blue, Pararosaniline (Feulgen), PhorwiteAR Solution, Phorwite BKL, Phorwite Rev, Phorwite RPA, Phosphine 3R,Phthalocyanine, Phycoerythrin R, Polyazaindacene Pontochrome Blue Black,Porphyrin, Primuline, Procion Yellow, Pyronine, Pyronine B, PyrozalBrilliant Flavin 7GF, Quinacrine Mustard, Rhodamine 123, Rhodamine 5GLD, Rhodamine 6G, Rhodamine B, Rhodamine B 200, Rhodamine B Extra,Rhodamine BB, Rhodamine BG, Rhodamine WT, Serotonin, Sevron BrilliantRed 2B, Sevron Brilliant Red 4G, Sevron Brilliant Red B, Sevron Orange,Sevron Yellow L, SITS (Primuline), SITS (Stilbene Isothiosulphonicacid), Stilbene, Snarf 1, sulpho Rhodamine B Can C, Sulpho Rhodamine GExtra, Tetracycline, Thiazine Red R, Thioflavin S, Thioflavin TCN,Thioflavin 5, Thiolyte, Thiozol Orange, Tinopol CBS, True Blue,Ultralite, Uranine B, Uvitex SFC, Xylene Orange, and XRITC.

Particularly useful fluorescent labels include fluorescein(5-carboxyfluorescein-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester), rhodamine(5,6-tetramethyl rhodamine), and the cyanine dyes Cy3, Cy3.5, Cy5, Cy5.5and Cy7. The absorption and emission maxima, respectively, for thesefluors are: FITC (490 nm; 520 nm), Cy3 (554 nm; 568 nm), Cy3.5 (581 nm;588 nm), Cy5 (652 nm: 672 nm), Cy5.5 (682 nm; 703 nm) and Cy7 (755 nm;778 nm), thus allowing their simultaneous detection. Other examples offluorescein dyes include 6-carboxyfluorescein (6-FAM),2′,4′,1,4,-tetrachlorofluorescein (TET),2′,4′,5′,7′,1,4-hexachlorofluorescein (HEX),2′,7′-dimethoxy-4′,5′-dichloro-6-carboxyrhodamine (JOE),2′-chloro-5′-fluoro-7′,8′-fused phenyl-1,4-dichloro-6-carboxyfluorescein(NED), and 2′-chloro-7′-phenyl-1,4-dichloro-6-carboxyfluorescein (VIC).Fluorescent labels can be obtained from a variety of commercial sources,including Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, N.J.; MolecularProbes, Eugene, Oreg.; and Research Organics, Cleveland, Ohio.Fluorescent probes and there use are also described in Handbook ofFluorescent Probes and Research Products by Richard P. Haugland.

Further examples of radioactive detectable agents include gammaemitters, e.g., the gamma emitters In-111, I-125 and I-131, Rhenium-186and 188, and Br-77 (see. e.g., Thakur, M. L. et al., Throm Res. Vol. 9pg. 345 (1976); Powers et al., Neurology Vol. 32 pg. 938 (1982); andU.S. Pat. No. 5,011,686); positron emitters, such as Cu-64, C-11, andO-15, as well as Co-57, Cu-67, Ga-67, Ga-68, Ru-97, Tc-99m, In-113m,Hg-197, Au-198, and Pb-203. Other radioactive detectable agents caninclude, for example tritium, C-14 and/or thallium, as well as Rh-105,I-123, Nd-147, Pm-151, Sm-153, Gd-159, Tb-161, Er-171 and/or Tl-201.

The use of Technitium-99m (Tc-99m) is preferable and has been describedin other applications, for example, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,052 and U.S.Pat. No. 5,024,829. Tc-99m is a gamma emitter with single photon energyof 140 keV and a half-life of about 6 hours, and can readily be obtainedfrom a Mo-99/Tc-99 generator.

In some embodiments, compositions comprising a radioactive detectableagent can be prepared by coupling a targeting moiety with radioisotopessuitable for detection. Coupling can occur via a chelating agent such asdiethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA),4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N-,N′,N″,N′″-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) and/ormetallothionein, any of which can be covalently attached to thetargeting moiety. In some embodiments, an aqueous mixture oftechnetium-99m, a reducing agent, and a water-soluble ligand can beprepared and then allowed to react with a disclosed targeting moiety.Such methods are known in the art, see e.g., International PublicationNo. WO 99/64446. In some embodiments, compositions comprisingradioactive iodine, can be prepared using an exchange reaction. Forexample, exchange of hot iodine for cold iodine is well known in theart. Alternatively, a radio-iodine labeled compound can be prepared fromthe corresponding bromo compound via a tributylstannyl intermediate.

Magnetic detectable agents include paramagnetic contrasting agents,e.g., gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, e.g., used withmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (see, e.g., De Roos, A. et al., Int. J.Card. Imaging Vol. 7 pg. 133 (1991)). Some preferred embodiments use asthe detectable agent paramagnetic atoms that are divalent or trivalentions of elements with an atomic number 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28,29, 42, 44, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, or 70.Suitable ions include, but are not limited to, chromium(III),manganese(II), iron(II), iron(III), cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II),praseodymium(III), neodymium(III), samarium(III) and ytterbium(III), aswell as gadolinium(III), terbium(III), dysoprosium(III), holmium(III),and erbium(III). Some preferred embodiments use atoms with strongmagnetic moments, e.g., gadolinium(III).

In some embodiments, compositions comprising magnetic detectable agentscan be prepared by coupling a targeting moiety with a paramagnetic atom.For example, the metal oxide or a metal salt, such as a nitrate,chloride or sulfate salt, of a suitable paramagnetic atom can bedissolved or suspended in a water/alcohol medium, such as methyl, ethyl,and/or isopropyl alcohol. The mixture can be added to a solution of anequimolar amount of the targeting moiety in a similar water/alcoholmedium and stirred. The mixture can be heated moderately until thereaction is complete or nearly complete. Insoluble compositions formedcan be obtained by filtering, while soluble compositions can be obtainedby evaporating the solvent. If acid groups on the chelating moietiesremain in the disclosed compositions, inorganic bases (e.g., hydroxides,carbonates and/or bicarbonates of sodium, potassium and/or lithium),organic bases, and/or basic amino acids can be used to neutralize acidicgroups, e.g., to facilitate isolation or purification of thecomposition.

In preferred embodiments, the detectable agent can be coupled to thehoming molecule in such a way so as not to interfere with the ability ofthe homing molecule to home to the target. In some embodiments, thedetectable agent can be chemically bound to the homing molecule. In someembodiments, the detectable agent can be chemically bound to a moietythat is itself chemically bound to the homing molecule, indirectlylinking the imaging and targeting moieties.

D. Pharmaceutical Compositions and Carriers

The disclosed conjugates can be administered in vivo in apharmaceutically acceptable carrier. By “pharmaceutically acceptable” ismeant a material that is not biologically or otherwise undesirable,i.e., the material can be administered to a subject, along with thenucleic acid or vector, without causing any undesirable biologicaleffects or interacting in a deleterious manner with any of the othercomponents of the pharmaceutical composition in which it is contained.The carrier would naturally be selected to minimize any degradation ofthe active ingredient and to minimize any adverse side effects in thesubject, as would be well known to one of skill in the art. Thematerials can be in solution, suspension (for example, incorporated intomicroparticles, liposomes, or cells).

1. Pharmaceutically Acceptable Carriers

The compositions, including antibodies, can be used therapeutically incombination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Suitable carriers and their formulations are described in Remington: TheScience and Practice of Pharmacy (19th ed.) ed. A. R. Gennaro, MackPublishing Company, Easton, Pa. 1995. Typically, an appropriate amountof a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt is used in the formulation torender the formulation isotonic. Examples of thepharmaceutically-acceptable carrier include, but are not limited to,saline, Ringer's solution and dextrose solution. The pH of the solutionis preferably from about 5 to about 8, and more preferably from about 7to about 7.5. Further carriers include sustained release preparationssuch as semipermeable matrices of solid hydrophobic polymers containingthe antibody, which matrices are in the form of shaped articles, e.g.,films, liposomes or microparticles. It will be apparent to those personsskilled in the art that certain carriers can be more preferabledepending upon, for instance, the route of administration andconcentration of composition being administered.

Pharmaceutical carriers are known to those skilled in the art. Thesemost typically would be standard carriers for administration of drugs tohumans, including solutions such as sterile water, saline, and bufferedsolutions at physiological pH. The compositions can be administeredintramuscularly or subcutaneously. Other compounds will be administeredaccording to standard procedures used by those skilled in the art.

Pharmaceutical compositions can include carriers, thickeners, diluents,buffers, preservatives, surface active agents and the like in additionto the molecule of choice. Pharmaceutical compositions can also includeone or more active ingredients such as antimicrobial agents,antiinflammatory agents, anesthetics, and the like.

The pharmaceutical composition can be administered in a number of waysdepending on whether local or systemic treatment is desired, and on thearea to be treated. Administration can be topically (includingophthalmically, vaginally, rectally, intranasally), orally, byinhalation, or parenterally, for example by intravenous drip,subcutaneous, intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection. The disclosedantibodies can be administered intravenously, intraperitoneally,intramuscularly, subcutaneously, intracavity, or transdermally.

Preparations for parenteral administration include sterile aqueous ornon-aqueous solutions, suspensions, and emulsions. Examples ofnon-aqueous solvents are propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol,vegetable oils such as olive oil, and injectable organic esters such asethyl oleate. Aqueous carriers include water, alcoholic/aqueoussolutions, emulsions or suspensions, including saline and bufferedmedia. Parenteral vehicles include sodium chloride solution, Ringer'sdextrose, dextrose and sodium chloride, lactated Ringer's, or fixedoils. Intravenous vehicles include fluid and nutrient replenishers,electrolyte replenishers (such as those based on Ringer's dextrose), andthe like. Preservatives and other additives can also be present such as,for example, antimicrobials, anti-oxidants, chelating agents, and inertgases and the like.

Formulations for topical administration can include ointments, lotions,creams, gels, drops, suppositories, sprays, liquids and powders.Conventional pharmaceutical carriers, aqueous, powder or oily bases,thickeners and the like may be necessary or desirable.

Compositions for oral administration include powders or granules,suspensions or solutions in water or non-aqueous media, capsules,sachets, or tablets. Thickeners, flavorings, diluents, emulsifiers,dispersing aids or binders may be desirable.

Some of the compositions can be administered as a pharmaceuticallyacceptable acid- or base-addition salt, formed by reaction withinorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, perchloricacid, nitric acid, thiocyanic acid, sulfuric acid, and phosphoric acid,and organic acids such as formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid,glycolic acid, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid,succinic acid, maleic acid, and fumaric acid, or by reaction with aninorganic base such as sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, potassiumhydroxide, and organic bases such as mono-, di-, trialkyl and arylamines and substituted ethanolamines.

E. Combinatorial Chemistry

The disclosed compositions can be used as targets for any combinatorialtechnique to identify molecules or macromolecular molecules thatinteract with the disclosed compositions in a desired way. Alsodisclosed are the compositions that are identified through combinatorialtechniques or screening techniques in which the compositions disclosedin SEQ ID NOS: 1 and 2 or portions thereof, are used as the target in acombinatorial or screening protocol.

It is understood that when using the disclosed compositions incombinatorial techniques or screening methods, molecules, such asmacromolecular molecules, will be identified that have particulardesired properties such as inhibition or stimulation or the targetmolecule's function. The molecules identified and isolated when usingthe disclosed compositions, such as, CAR and CRK, are also disclosed.Thus, the products produced using the combinatorial or screeningapproaches that involve the disclosed compositions, such as, CAR andCRK, are also considered herein disclosed.

F. Computer Assisted Drug Design

The disclosed compositions can be used as targets for any molecularmodeling technique to identify either the structure of the disclosedcompositions or to identify potential or actual molecules, such as smallmolecules, which interact in a desired way with the disclosedcompositions.

It is understood that when using the disclosed compositions in modelingtechniques, molecules, such as macromolecular molecules, will beidentified that have particular desired properties such as inhibition orstimulation or the target molecule's function. The molecules identifiedand isolated when using the disclosed compositions, such as, CAR andCRK, are also disclosed. Thus, the products produced using the molecularmodeling approaches that involve the disclosed compositions, such as,CAR and CRK are also considered herein disclosed.

Thus, one way to isolate molecules that bind a molecule of choice isthrough rational design. This can be achieved through structuralinformation and computer modeling. Computer modeling technology allowsvisualization of the three-dimensional atomic structure of a selectedmolecule and the rational design of new compounds that will interactwith the molecule. The three-dimensional construct typically depends ondata from x-ray crystallographic analyses or NMR imaging of the selectedmolecule. The molecular dynamics require force field data. The computergraphics systems enable prediction of how a new compound will link tothe target molecule and allow experimental manipulation of thestructures of the compound and target molecule to perfect bindingspecificity. Prediction of what the molecule-compound interaction willbe when small changes are made in one or both requires molecularmechanics software and computationally intensive computers, usuallycoupled with user-friendly, menu-driven interfaces between the moleculardesign program and the user.

Examples of molecular modeling systems are the CHARMm and QUANTAprograms, Polygen Corporation, Waltham, Mass. CHARMm performs the energyminimization and molecular dynamics functions. QUANTA performs theconstruction, graphic modeling and analysis of molecular structure.QUANTA allows interactive construction, modification, visualization, andanalysis of the behavior of molecules with each other.

A number of articles review computer modeling of drugs interactive withspecific proteins, such as Rotivinen, et al., 1988 Acta PharmaceuticaFennica 97, 159-166; Ripka, New Scientist 54-57 (Jun. 16, 1988);McKinaly and Rossmann, 1989 Annul. Rev. Pharmacol._Toxiciol. 29,111-122; Perry and Davies, QSAR: Quantitative Structure-ActivityRelationships in Drug Design pp. 189-193 (Alan R. Liss, Inc. 1989);Lewis and Dean, 1989 Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 236, 125-140 and 141-162; and,with respect to a model enzyme for nucleic acid components, Askew, etal., 1989 J. Am. Chem. Soc. 111, 1082-1090. Other computer programs thatscreen and graphically depict chemicals are available from companiessuch as BioDesign, Inc., Pasadena, Calif., Allelix, Inc, Mississauga,Ontario, Canada, and Hypercube, Inc., Cambridge, Ontario. Although theseare primarily designed for application to drugs specific to particularproteins, they can be adapted to design of molecules specificallyinteracting with specific regions of DNA or RNA, once that region isidentified.

Although described above with reference to design and generation ofcompounds which could alter binding, one could also screen libraries ofknown compounds, including natural products or synthetic chemicals, andbiologically active materials, including proteins, for compounds whichalter substrate binding or enzymatic activity.

G. Compositions with Similar Functions

It is understood that the compositions disclosed herein have certainfunctions, such as interacting with the fibrin-fibronectin complex.Disclosed herein are certain structural requirements for performing thedisclosed functions, and it is understood that there are a variety ofstructures which can perform the same function which are related to thedisclosed structures, and that these structures will ultimately achievethe same result, for example stimulation or inhibition.

H. Kits

Disclosed herein are kits that are drawn to reagents that can be used inpracticing the methods disclosed herein. The kits can include anyreagent or combination of reagent discussed herein or that would beunderstood to be required or beneficial in the practice of the disclosedmethods. For example, the kits could include CAR and CRK.

I. Mixtures

Whenever the method involves mixing or bringing into contactcompositions or components or reagents, performing the method creates anumber of different mixtures. For example, if the method includes 3mixing steps, after each one of these steps a unique mixture is formedif the steps are performed separately. In addition, a mixture is formedat the completion of all of the steps regardless of how the steps wereperformed. The present disclosure contemplates these mixtures, obtainedby the performance of the disclosed methods as well as mixturescontaining any disclosed reagent, composition, or component, forexample, disclosed herein.

J. Systems

Disclosed are systems useful for performing, or aiding in theperformance of, the disclosed method. Systems generally comprisecombinations of articles of manufacture such as structures, machines,devices, and the like, and compositions, compounds, materials, and thelike. Such combinations that are disclosed or that are apparent from thedisclosure are contemplated.

K. Computer Readable Media

It is understood that the disclosed nucleic acids and proteins can berepresented as a sequence consisting of the nucleotides of amino acids.There are a variety of ways to display these sequences, for example thenucleotide guanosine can be represented by G or g. Likewise the aminoacid valine can be represented by Val or V. Those of skill in the artunderstand how to display and express any nucleic acid or proteinsequence in any of the variety of ways that exist, each of which isconsidered herein disclosed. Specifically contemplated herein is thedisplay of these sequences on computer readable mediums, such as,commercially available floppy disks, tapes, chips, hard drives, compactdisks, and video disks, or other computer readable mediums. Alsodisclosed are the binary code representations of the disclosedsequences. Those of skill in the art understand what computer readablemediums. Thus, computer readable mediums on which the nucleic acids orprotein sequences are recorded, stored, or saved.

Methods

Disclosed herein are methods of directing a moiety to regeneratingtissue, comprising administering to the subject a conjugate as disclosedherein. As discussed above, the regenerating tissue can be at the siteof a wound, such as those caused by injury or surgery. Since thepeptides home to regenerating tissue, they can be used in any methodassociated with regenerating tissue. The conjugate can have atherapeutic effect on at least one of the wound sites. The moiety can beused to detect, visualize, or image at least one of the wound sites, ora combination.

Disclosed are methods wherein the therapeutic effect comprises areduction in inflammation. By “reduction in inflammation” is meant adecrease in inflammation compared to if the inflammation were nottreated. The reduction in inflammation can be about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25,30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100%increase, or about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60,70, 80, 90, or 100 fold, or higher. There can also be an increase inspeed of wound healing, as compared to an untreated wound. The increasein speed of wound healing can be about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40,45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100% increase, or about1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100fold, or higher. There can also be a reduction in the amount of scartissue as compared to an untreated site of injury or wound. Thereduction in the amount of scar tissue can be about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25,30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100%. Therecan also be a reduction in the amount of pain experienced by the subjectin need thereof, compared to the amount of pain experienced if nottreated for pain. This reduction in pain can be about a 5, 10, 15, 20,25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100%reduction. There can also be a decrease in swelling. This decrease inswelling can be compared to untreated swelling, and can be about a 5,10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95,or 100% decrease in swelling. There can also be a decrease in tissuenecrosis, compared to untreated tissue. The decrease in necrosis can beabout 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85,90, 95, or 100%.

The conjugates disclosed herein can also be useful in subjects witharthritis and other inflammatory diseases, as such lesions are oftenassociated with angiogenesis. The conjugates can be used to treat ordiagnose any disease, condition, or disorder associated withangiogenesis. For example, macular degeneration and diabetic vascularcomplications can be diagnosed and/or treated.

The conjugates disclosed herein can also be useful in subjects withtumors, since tumors are associated with angiogenesis. Disclosed is amethod of directing a moiety to tumors, comprising administering to thesubject the any of the conjugates disclosed herein. For example, theconjugate can have a therapeutic effect. The subject can have one ormore sites to be targeted, wherein the moiety is directed to one or moreof the sites to be targeted. For example, the subject can have multiplewounds or lesions that can be treated with the moieties disclosedherein. The subject can also have cancer, and the moiety can be directedto tumor angiogenesis in the subject. In this case, the conjugate canhave a therapeutic effect on the cancer. For example, the size of thetumor can be reduced, or the growth of the tumor can be reduced,stopped, or reversed. The moiety can also be used to detect the cancer,visualize one or more tumors, or both.

The disclosed compositions can be used to treat any disease whereuncontrolled cellular proliferation occurs such as cancers. Anon-limiting list of different types of cancers can be as follows:lymphomas (Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins), leukemias, carcinomas, carcinomasof solid tissues, squamous cell carcinomas, adenocarcinomas, sarcomas,gliomas, high grade gliomas, blastomas, neuroblastomas, plasmacytomas,histiocytomas, melanomas, adenomas, hypoxic tumours, myelomas,AIDS-related lymphomas or sarcomas, metastatic cancers, or cancers ingeneral.

A representative but non-limiting list of cancers that the disclosedcompositions can be used to treat is the following: lymphoma, B celllymphoma, T cell lymphoma, mycosis fungoides, Hodgkin's Disease, myeloidleukemia, bladder cancer, brain cancer, nervous system cancer, head andneck cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck, kidney cancer,lung cancers such as small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lungcancer, neuroblastoma/glioblastoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer,prostate cancer, skin cancer, liver cancer, melanoma, squamous cellcarcinomas of the mouth, throat, larynx, and lung, colon cancer,cervical cancer, cervical carcinoma, breast cancer, and epithelialcancer, renal cancer, genitourinary cancer, pulmonary cancer, esophagealcarcinoma, head and neck carcinoma, large bowel cancer, hematopoieticcancers; testicular cancer; colon and rectal cancers, prostatic cancer,or pancreatic cancer.

The compositions can be administered orally, parenterally (e.g.,intravenously), by intramuscular injection, by intraperitonealinjection, transdermally, extracorporeally, topically or the like,including topical intranasal administration or administration byinhalant. As used herein, “topical intranasal administration” meansdelivery of the compositions into the nose and nasal passages throughone or both of the nares and can comprise delivery by a sprayingmechanism or droplet mechanism, or through aerosolization of the nucleicacid or vector. Administration of the compositions by inhalant can bethrough the nose or mouth via delivery by a spraying or dropletmechanism. Delivery can also be directly to any area of the respiratorysystem (e.g., lungs) via intubation. The exact amount of thecompositions required will vary from subject to subject, depending onthe species, age, weight and general condition of the subject, theseverity of the allergic disorder being treated, the particular nucleicacid or vector used, its mode of administration and the like. Thus, itis not possible to specify an exact amount for every composition.However, an appropriate amount can be determined by one of ordinaryskill in the art using only routine experimentation given the teachingsherein.

Parenteral administration of the composition, if used, is generallycharacterized by injection. Injectables can be prepared in conventionalforms, either as liquid solutions or suspensions, solid forms suitablefor solution of suspension in liquid prior to injection, or asemulsions. A more recently revised approach for parenteraladministration involves use of a slow release or sustained releasesystem such that a constant dosage is maintained. See, e.g., U.S. Pat.No. 3,610,795, which is incorporated by reference herein.

The compositions disclosed herein and the compositions necessary toperform the disclosed methods can be made using any method known tothose of skill in the art for that particular reagent or compound unlessotherwise specifically noted.

One method of producing the disclosed proteins, such as SEQ ID NOs: 1and 2, is to link two or more peptides or polypeptides together byprotein chemistry techniques. For example, peptides or polypeptides canbe chemically synthesized using currently available laboratory equipmentusing either Fmoc (9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl) or Boc(tert-butyloxycarbonoyl) chemistry. (Applied Biosystems, Inc., FosterCity, Calif.). One skilled in the art can readily appreciate that apeptide or polypeptide corresponding to the disclosed proteins, forexample, can be synthesized by standard chemical reactions. For example,a peptide or polypeptide can be synthesized and not cleaved from itssynthesis resin whereas the other fragment of a peptide or protein canbe synthesized and subsequently cleaved from the resin, thereby exposinga terminal group which is functionally blocked on the other fragment. Bypeptide condensation reactions, these two fragments can be covalentlyjoined via a peptide bond at their carboxyl and amino termini,respectively, to form an antibody, or fragment thereof. (Grant GA (1992)Synthetic Peptides: A User Guide. W.H. Freeman and Co., N.Y. (1992);Bodansky M and Trost B., Ed. (1993) Principles of Peptide Synthesis.Springer-Verlag Inc., NY (which is herein incorporated by reference atleast for material related to peptide synthesis). Alternatively, thepeptide or polypeptide is independently synthesized in vivo as describedherein. Once isolated, these independent peptides or polypeptides can belinked to form a peptide or fragment thereof via similar peptidecondensation reactions.

For example, enzymatic ligation of cloned or synthetic peptide segmentsallow relatively short peptide fragments to be joined to produce largerpeptide fragments, polypeptides or whole protein domains (Abrahmsen L etal., Biochemistry, 30:4151 (1991)). Alternatively, native chemicalligation of synthetic peptides can be utilized to syntheticallyconstruct large peptides or polypeptides from shorter peptide fragments.This method consists of a two step chemical reaction (Dawson et al.Synthesis of Proteins by Native Chemical Ligation. Science, 266:776-779(1994)). The first step is the chemoselective reaction of an unprotectedsynthetic peptide—thioester with another unprotected peptide segmentcontaining an amino-terminal Cys residue to give a thioester-linkedintermediate as the initial covalent product. Without a change in thereaction conditions, this intermediate undergoes spontaneous, rapidintramolecular reaction to form a native peptide bond at the ligationsite (Baggiolini M et al. (1992) FEBS Lett. 307:97-101; Clark-Lewis I etal., J. Biol. Chem., 269:16075 (1994); Clark-Lewis I et al.,Biochemistry, 30:3128 (1991); Rajarathnam K et al., Biochemistry33:6623-30 (1994)).

Alternatively, unprotected peptide segments are chemically linked wherethe bond formed between the peptide segments as a result of the chemicalligation is an unnatural (non-peptide) bond (Schnolzer, M et al.Science, 256:221 (1992)). This technique has been used to synthesizeanalogs of protein domains as well as large amounts of relatively pureproteins with full biological activity (deLisle Milton R C et al.,Techniques in Protein Chemistry IV. Academic Press, New York, pp.257-267 (1992)).

EXAMPLES

The following example is put forth so as to provide those of ordinaryskill in the art with a complete disclosure and description of how thecompounds, compositions, articles, devices and/or methods claimed hereinare made and evaluated, and are intended to be purely exemplary and arenot intended to limit the disclosure. Efforts have been made to ensureaccuracy with respect to numbers (e.g., amounts, temperature, etc.), butsome errors and deviations should be accounted for. Unless indicatedotherwise, parts are parts by weight, temperature is in ° C. or is atambient temperature, and pressure is at or near atmospheric.

1. Example 1 Molecular Changes in the Vasculature of Injured Tissues

i. Identification of Homing Peptides by Phage Display

To identify candidate peptides that home into the vasculature in healingwounds, phage libraries were screened in vivo. A T7-phage library(diversity 8.75×10⁸) was intravenously injected into rats 5 days afterwounding of the skin and tendons. The 5-day time point was chosenbecause the number of blood vessels in the healing wound peaks at thattime (Järvinen 1976; Thompson 1991; Dyson 1992; Paavonen 2000). Separatescreens for phage that home to tendon or skin wounds yielded phage poolswith increased affinity for the target tissues. Sequencing of individualphage clones revealed 2 peptide sequences that appeared multiple timesin the selected pools. These clones were chosen for further analysis.

One of the selected peptides is a cyclic peptide CARSKNKDC (referred toas CAR, SEQ ID NO: 3). This peptide was obtained from the tendonscreens. BLAST analysis (Altschul et al. 1997) showed that the CARsequence is similar to the main heparin-binding site (RARKKNKNC, SEQ IDNO: 3) of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4). The CAR phage homed 100to 140 fold more efficiently to wounds in the patellar and Achillestendons and in the skin than non-recombinant. To confirm the specificityof the homing for wound tissue, wounds were induced in the patellar andAchilles tendons of the left hind limb, while subjecting the right hindlimb to a sham operation. The sham operation consisted of a skinincision that exposed the tendon but left it otherwise intact. Whentested on day 5 after wounding, the CAR phage homed 220 to 370 fold moreto the wounded tendons compared to the contra-lateral intact tendons andto wounded skin compared to intact skin distant from the wound sites. Incontrast, similar numbers of the CAR phage and control phage accumulatedin liver, kidney, heart, lung and spleen.

A CRKDKC(CRK, SEQ ID NO: 2) peptide was identified from skin wounds intwo independent screens. The CRK sequence is completely identical to theportion of the thrombospondin type I repeats (TSR I) which are presentin a large number of extracellular matrix proteins. The sequence isshorter than the structure of the CX₇C-library would predict; a modifiedpeptide structure is a relatively common occurrence in phage screening(Hoffman et al. 2003). The sequence contains a cysteine residue at bothends; these cysteines are likely to form a cyclizing disulfide bond.Intravenously injected CRK phage homed to 5-day tendon and skin woundsapproximately 50 times more than non-recombinant control phage.Comparison to the corresponding healthy tissues on the contra-lateralside showed nearly 80-fold preference for tendon and skin wounds.Similar numbers of the CRK phage and control phage were found in theliver, kidney, heart, lung, and spleen. Finally, both the CAR and CRKsequences were re-cloned into the T7 vector and showed that theresulting phage clones homed to wounds as effectively as the originalphage.

ii. Sequence Specificity of Wound Homing by CAR and CRK

In the same tendon wound screen that produced the CAR sequence, apeptide was found with a somewhat related sequence, CARSTKATC (CAR2, SEQID NO: 4). We also created a CAR mutant phage by changing two basicamino acids to neutral ones (CARSKNKDC mutated to CAQSANKDC, SEQ ID NOS:5 and 6, respectively). Both CAR2 and the mutant phage showed impairedwound-homing properties: the CAR2 phage had about 20% of the homingactivity of CAR and the mutant phage was essentially inactive in homing.A mutant CRK phage was made by changing two amino acids (from CRKDKC toCRASKC, SEQ ID NO: 7 and 8, respectively). The mutant phage had alsoalmost completely lost the homing ability. The loss of activity as aresult of the sequence changes emphasizes the role of the basic aminoacids in the homing activity and attests to the specificity of thehoming.

iii. Synthetic CAR and CRK Peptides Accumulate in Wounds

The CAR and CRK peptides were synthesized as fluorescein (FITC)conjugates and tested their tissue distribution after intravenousinjection to mice and rats with tendon and skin wounds. Both peptidesproduced strong fluorescent signal in the wounds that co-localized withCD31-positive cells at 4 and 8 hours after the injection. CAR2, eventhough slightly active at the phage-homing level, produced noaccumulated fluorescence, and an unrelated 5 amino-acid control peptide(KAREC, SEQ ID NO: 9) also gave no detectable signal in the wounds.Because of an autofluorescent background in wounds, thefluorescein-labeled peptides were also detected with an anti-FITCantibody, and the signal was thus amplified and converted to anon-fluorescent dye. The antibody staining confirmed the localization ofthe fluorescein label in the granulation tissue, particularly at latertime points, when the fluorescent signal was weak. The fluorescentsignal produced by CAR and CRK in non-tumor tissues (liver, kidney, lungand spleen) did not differ from that of the fluorescein-labeled CAR2 orKAREC peptides used as controls.

iv. Healing Stage-Dependent Changes in Phage Homing

As a wound matures, much of the initially rich vasculature graduallyregresses. To determine to what extent our wound-homing peptides wouldhome to wounds at times other than the 5-day time point, individualphage clones were injected at days 7, 10 and 14 after wounding. Thetotal number of homing phage rescued from the wounds decreased as woundhealing progressed, presumably reflecting less dense vascularization ofthe wound tissue. Surprisingly, the CRK phage, which homed less stronglythan CAR at day 5, was generally the more efficient homing peptide atthe later stages of wound healing. Phage staining showed that both phageclones co-localized with blood vessels at all stages in wound healing.In agreement with the phage homing data, the CRK phage gave strongerstaining of the wound vessels than CAR phage. The phage stainingindicates that the molecular change reflected in the relative homing ofCAR and CRK resides in the vasculature.

v. Cell Surface Heparan Sulfate as the Target Molecule for CAR

The CAR sequence homology with the heparin-binding site of BMP4 and thepresence in CRK of a classical heparin-binding motif (XBBXBX; where Xdenotes any amino acid and B basic residue, SEQ ID NO: 10), showed thata particular form of a glycosaminoglycan, likely a heparan sulfate, canserve as the binding site for one of both of the peptides. Chinesehamster ovary cells (CHO-K) were used, and the pgsA-745 mutant CHO linethat is defective in glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis (Esko et al. 1985))to test the binding of CAR and CRK to cell surface glycosaminoglycans.CAR phage bound to the CHO-K cells 55-fold more than non-recombinantcontrol phage (p<0.0001), but there was no specific binding to theglycosaminoglycan-deficient cells. The CRK phage did not bindsignificantly to either cell line. Pretreatment of the CHO-K cells withheparinase I and III decreased the binding of the CAR phage by almost80% (p<0.0001). The CAR phage also bound to heparin-coated beads; 70fold more CAR phage than non-recombinant control phage was recoveredfrom the beads (p<0.0001). CRK phage binding was only marginally higherthan that of the control phage.

FACS analysis also revealed strong binding of the synthetic CAR peptideto the CHO-K cells, but not to the pgsA-745 cells. An excess ofunlabeled CAR peptide inhibited the binding in a dose-dependent manner.The binding could also be inhibited with the CAR phage. The CAR2 peptidebound only weakly to the CHO-K cells, and KAREC showed no binding toeither the CHO-K or pgsA-745 cells. These results indicate that CAR, butnot CRK, has an active heparin-binding site, and that CAR binds toglycosaminoglycan moiety in cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans(HSPGs).

vi. Cell-Penetrating Properties of CAR Peptide

Many of the best-characterized cell penetrating peptides contain basicresidues, and HSPGs are thought to be involved in the internalization ofthese peptides (Joliot 2005; Zorko 2005). This prompted the study ofcell-penetrating properties of the wound-homing peptides.Fluorescein-labeled CAR peptide incubated with CHO-K cells accumulatedwithin 30 min inside the cells, overlapping with the nucleus. Confocalmicroscopy confirmed the nuclear localization. The CRK peptide bound tothe cells, but was not detectably internalized. CAR2 showed no bindingor internalization. Thus, the CAR peptide appears to be acell-penetrating peptide. It was demonstrated that internalization ofthe CAR peptide by CHO-K cells takes place. FITC-conjugated CAR, CAR2,CRK, KAREC, CGKRK, and F3 peptides (10 μM) were incubated with CHO-K for4 hours, the cells were washed, fixed, stained with the nuclear stain,DAPI, and examined by confocal microscopy. The CAR peptide producesstrong green fluorescence that mostly overlaps with nuclear DAPIstaining. CAR2, CRK, and KAREC peptides give no detectable fluorescence.CGKRK and F3 overlap with the nuclei and the cytosol. It wasdemonstrated that internalization of the CAR peptide takes place byhuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). CAR, CAR2, CRK andKAREC peptides (10 μM) were incubated with HUVECs for 24 h, unboundpeptide was removed by washing, and the cells were fixed. The nucleiwere visualized by staining with DAPI and the slides were mounted foranalysis under an inverted fluorescence microscope. The CAR peptidebinds to cells and appears to enter the cells co-localizing with thenuclei. The CRK peptide binds to the cells, but does not internalize.The control peptides show no binding to the cells.

Two cell-penetrating peptides, CGKRK and F3, have been characterized,which specifically recognize angiogenic endothelial cells and tumorcells (Hoffman 2003; Porkka 2002). Each of these peptides contains basicresidues, raising the question whether they might bind to the same sitesat the cell surface as the CAR peptide. F3 and GCKRK accumulated in thecytosol and nuclei both in the CHO-K and pgsA-745 cells, whereas CARonly binds to and is internalized by the CHO-K cells (and CRK does notbind significantly to either cell line). Moreover, a 10-molar excess ofunlabeled F3 or CGKRK peptide did not detectably affect the uptakefluorescein-labeled CAR peptide by the CHO-K cells. Taken together withthe demonstration that the receptor for the F3 peptide is cellsurface-expressed nucleolin, rather than heparan sulfate, these resultsshow that the specificities of CAR and CRK are new.

vii. Discussion

Two novel peptides are herein reported that specifically home to tendonand skin wounds, targeting both the vasculature and granulation tissueof the wounds. The target molecule of one of the peptides appears to bea cell surface heparan sulfate structure. These peptides are used toprovide evidence that the molecular profile of blood vessels in woundschanges as wounds mature.

This approach was based on the notion that in vivo screening of phagelibraries using wound-induced angiogenesis as a target can produce adifferent repertoire of vascular homing peptides than screening on othertypes of angiogenic lesions, such as tumors, which have been usedextensively in similar screening (Ruoslahti 2002). This hypothesis wasshown to be correct. The wound-homing peptides contain several basicresidues, and highly basic peptides have been previously identified intumor screens (Hoffman 2003; Joyce 2003). Moreover, the CAR and CKRpeptides also recognize tumor vasculature. However, the arrangement ofthe basic amino acids and other sequence features distinguish these newpeptides from the previously described ones. They also differ in heparinbinding and cell-type specificity. Among the earlier peptides, F3 andCGKRK bind to heparin, but as shown here, are equally effective inbinding to cells that express cell surface heparan sulfate and cellsthat lack it. In contrast, CAR does not recognize the heparansulfate-deficient cells, and CRK does not bind to heparin.

The phage screening was performed using wounds made in two tissues,tendon and skin. The CAR peptide came from a tendon screen and the CRKpeptide was obtained in a skin screen. Despite their different origin,both peptides homed to wounds in both tissues.

The CAR and CRK peptides displayed an opposite homing preference withregard to the age of the wound; CAR favors early wounds and CRK matureones. The CAR and CRK phage exclusively accumulate in the blood vesselsof the wounds, as shown by nearly complete overlap of phageimmunostaining with the blood vessel marker CD31. It is concluded thatwound maturation is accompanied by changes in the profile of molecularmarkers in wound blood vessels. This conclusion parallels what has beenobserved in studies on tumor vasculature. Vascular markers candistinguish the blood vessels and lymphatics in pre-malignant lesionsfrom those of fully malignant tumors in the same tumor system (Joyce2003; Zhang 2006). Furthermore, blood vessels in tumors at differentstages of tumor development and different stages of vessel maturationdiffer in their response to anti-angiogenic treatments. The results showthat a similar maturation process takes place in wound vasculature.

The CAR peptide binds to heparin and cell surface heparan sulfate,showing that one or more HSPGs at the cell surface are the targetmolecules for this peptide. HSPGs are ubiquitously expressed, butsequence variability in their heparan sulfate component makes possibletissue and cell type-specific interaction with proteins. The specificityof the CAR peptide for wound vessels and tumor vessels shows that thispeptide may recognize a heparan sulfate sequence specific for wound andtumor angiogenesis.

viii. Experimental Procedures

a. Materials

Heparinase I (flavobacterium heparinum; heparin lyase, EC 4.2.2.7),heparinase III (F. heparinum; heparin-sulfate lyase, EC 4.2.2.8) andheparin immobilized on acrylic beads were purchased from Sigma (St.Louis, Mo.).

b. Generation of Wounds

Wound experiments were carried out in 6-8-week old male Spraque-Dawleyrats and BALB/c mice. Rats were anesthetized with an intraperitonealinjection of 50/50% ketamine-Xylaxine, and intraperitoneal injection of2.5% avertin was used for mice. Skin was shaved, cleaned and disinfectedwith betadine and 70% alcohol. All animal experiments were approved bythe IACUC of Burnham Institute for Medical Research.

Two types of injuries were used with patellar tendons: For phagescreening in rats, patellar tendons were exposed through small skinincisions placed on the lateral side of the joint so that the skin woundand tendon wound were not in direct contact with each other. Sixlongitudinal, full-length incisions were made into the tendon.Full-thickness incision wounds, 1.5 cm in length, were made in skin onthe back of the animal. The skin wounds were left uncovered without adressing. For quantification of phage homing and peptide injections, twosize 11 surgical scalpels were placed side-by-side and the central thirdof the patellar tendon was removed analogous to the graft used inanterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Achilles tendons were woundedby making four longitudinal, full-length incisions into the tendon. Skinwounds were 8 mm circular, full-thickness excision wounds, made to theskin with a biopsy punch. None of the procedures prevented the animalsfrom bearing weight and moving immediately after the operation andwithout a noticeable limb.

c. Phage Libraries and Library Screening

The libraries were prepared by using NNK-oligonucleotides encoding arandom library of cyclic peptides of the general structure CX₇C, whichwere cloned into the T7Select 415-1 vector according to themanufacturer's instructions (Novagen, Madison, Wis.). This vectordisplays peptides in all 415 copies of the phage capsid protein as aC-terminal fusion.

The screening process involved three in vivo-selection rounds.Eight-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with the librarythrough the tail vein or intracardially and were perfused 10 min laterthrough the heart with 1% BSA in DMEM to remove unbound intravascularphage. The first in vivo round included 19 animals with both patellartendon and skin wounds, which were separately pooled. The second roundused separate sets of 3 animals for tendon and skin wound screening, andthe third round was performed with one wound of each kind.

d. Peptides

Peptides were synthesized with an automated peptide synthesizer by usingstandard solid-phase fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl chemistry. Duringsynthesis, the peptides were labeled with fluorescein with anamino-hexanoic acid spacer. Each individual fluorescein-conjugatedpeptide was injected intravenously into the tail vein of rats or micewith wounds. The peptides were allowed to circulate for differentperiods of time, followed by heart perfusion. Tissues were embedded intoOCT (Tissue-Tek) and processed for microscopy.

e. Immunohistochemistry

Frozen tissue sections were fixed in acetone for 10 min and incubatedwith 0.5% blocking reagent for 1 hour (NEN Life Sciences, Boston,Mass.). Tissue sections were incubated with the primary antibodyovernight at 4° C. The following monoclonal (mAbs) and polyclonalantibodies (pAbs) were used: rabbit anti-T7-phage affinity-purified pAb(1:100) [33], rat anti-mouse CD31 mAb (1:200; BD Pharmingen) and rabbitanti-FITC pAb (1:200, Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). The primaryantibodies were detected with labeled secondary antibodies, and eachstaining experiment included sections stained with species-matchedimmunoglobulins as negative controls. The sections were washed severaltimes with PBS, mounted in Vectashield Mounting Medium with DAPI (VectorLaboratories) and visualized under an inverted fluorescent or lightmicroscope.

f. Cell Culture

Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K) were obtained from the American TypeCulture Collection (Rockville, Md.). The pgsA-745 mutant cell line isderived from CHO-K. Cells were maintained in αMEM Earle's saltsupplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 100 μg/ml streptomycinsulfate, 100 units of penicillin G/ml and 292 μg/ml L-glutamine(Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). HUVECs were cultured according to themanufacturer's instructions (Cambrex, East Rutherford, N.J.).

g. Cell Binding Assays

Cells were detached with 0.5 mM EDTA solution (Irvine Scientific, SantaAna, Calif.), washed with PBS and re-suspended in 1% BSA+αMEM. For thephage binding experiments, approximately 1×10¹⁰ phages were added to 15ml culture media containing approximately 1×10⁶ cells in a test tube.The samples were rotated for 2 hours at +4° C. The cells were thenwashed six times and transferred to new tube. After a final wash, thecells were counted and cell-bound phage titers were determined.Heparinase treatment of the CHO-K cells was carried out using 1.5 IU/mlheparinase I and 1.25 IU/ml heparinase III in serum-free culture mediafor 2 hours.

Peptide binding to cells was studied essentially as described above forphage. Peptides were tested at 5 μM concentration, with or without 5×10⁹phage. After incubation on ice for 30 min, the cells were washed andresuspended with PBS containing 2 μg/ml of propidium iodide (PI,Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) and analyzed using a FACScan flowcytometer (BD, San Jose, Calif.).

To study peptide internalization, CHO-K cells or HUVEC seeded on plasticcoverslips were incubated with 10 μM fluorescein-conjugated peptides for30 min to 72 hours, washed 3 times with PBS, and fixed with 4%paraformaldehyde for 20 min at room temperature. After several washeswith PBS, the nuclei were visualized by staining with DAPI, and theslides were mounted with ProLong Gold antifade reagent (Invitrogen,Carlsbad, Calif.). The images were acquired using Olympus IX81 invertedand Olympus Fluoview FV1000 confocal microscopes. Z-stack images weretaken by confocal microscope every 1 μm through the cells.

h. Heparin Binding

To measure phage binding to heparin, heparin-coated acrylic beads 10%(v/v) were suspended in 20 mM Na₂HPO₄ buffer, pH 7.2, containing 0.2 MNaCl. Approximately 5.0×10⁹ phage particles were incubated with thebeads for 1 hour at room temperature. The beads were washed, transferredto new tube and, bound phage was eluted with 1.2 M NaCl (pH 7.2) andtitrated.

i. Statistical Analysis

Differences between the various treatments were statistically testedusing the Student's unpaired t-test, while the phage homing to woundsversus sham-operated tissues was analyzed using the Student's pairedt-test. For comparisons of multiple groups, statistical analysis wascarried out by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) complemented by theBonferroni post hoc test for pair-wise comparisons between the testgroups. The possible difference in the homing of the different phageclones to wounds was assessed using the log-transformed variables. Pvalues of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant forall tests. The significance level shown refers to two-tailed test.

2. Example 2 Target-Seeking Anti-Fibrotic Compound Enhances WoundHealing and Suppresses Scar Formation

Tissue injuries caused by trauma, surgery and inflammation are a majormedical problem. Options in promoting tissue repair are largely limitedto local intervention. We have designed a target-seeking biotherapeuticfor systemic wound healing applications. The strategy uses two peptidesthat specifically recognize blood vessels in wounds and can deliver apayload to wounds with a 50- to 500-fold selectivity. We use thesepeptides to deliver decorin, into skin wounds. Decorin prevents tissuefibrosis (Border 1992; Fukushima 2001; Weis 2005; Jarvelainen 2006) andpromotes tissue regeneration (Davies 2004) by inhibiting TGF-β activity(Yamaguchi 1990; Yamaguchi 1988) and by some other regulatory activities(Reed 2002; Zhang 2006). Proteins in which decorin is fused to awound-homing peptide were strikingly effective in preventing scarformation where an equivalent dose of decorin was inactive. Thus,selective physical targeting, which is referred to as ‘synaphic’ (Greek:together; affinity) delivery, yields a wound-healing compound with anenhanced specificity and potency. This approach can make systemicenhancement of tissue repair a feasible option.

It is difficult to maintain bioactivity of locally applied therapeuticagents because of problems with lack of retention of the agent in thewound, poor tissue penetration, and instability of protein therapeuticsin the protease rich environment of the wound. Moreover, deep injuriesand multiple sites of injury further limit the usefulness of localtreatment. Clearly, systemic approaches to tissue repair is valuable.The response to tissue injury in adult mammals seems to be focused onquick sealing of an injury, which results in scar formation. Theproliferation of fibroblasts (astrocytes) and smooth muscle cells andenhanced extracellular matrix production by these cells are the mainelements of scar formation, which limits regeneration in adult tissues(Singer 1999; Martin 1997). In contrast, fetal tissues heal by a processthat restores the original tissue architecture and results in noscarring. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), which is inhibited bydecorin, is a major factor responsible for wound repair, but itsactivity also results in scar formation and fibrosis (Werner 2003;Brunner 2004; Leask 2004).

Two recombinant wound-targeted decorin fusion proteins were produced byadding one of two wound homing peptides, CRK (CRKDKC, SEQ ID NO: 2) andCAR (CARSKNKDC, SEQ ID NO: 1) to the C-terminus of human decorin (FIG.4). In accordance with earlier results, decorin inhibited theproliferation of the CHO-K cells at high concentrations, but the homingpeptide-modified decorins were highly active at concentrations wheredecorin was inactive (FIG. 5). They also inhibited cell spreading(Sullivan 2006) more potently than non-modified decorin (FIG. 6). Theseresults show that the peptides impart their binding specificity to thefusion protein decorins, which retain known decorin activities and canbe more potent than decorin itself.

When injected intravenously homing peptide decorins consistentlyproduced a 5-fold stronger decorin immunoreactivity in both wound bloodvessels and granulation tissue than non-modified decorin (FIG. 1). Theunderlying normal muscle immediately beneath the skin wound was almostcompletely negative for immunoreactivity, as was normal dermis andepidermis (shown for CRK-decorin in muscle in FIG. 1). The accumulationof the homing peptide decorins in wound tissue parallels the resultsobtained in using the same homing peptides to deliver bacteriophage andfluorescein into wounds. The results show that homing peptide-enhanceddelivery can markedly increase the concentration of decorin in wounds.

Next, the effect of the homing peptide decorins on wound healing wasexamined. The daily dose of 40 μg/day was chosen based on previousdecorin studies (Seidler 2006; Yang 1999). The dose was doubled on Days4-6, coincident with the peak in TGF-β expression in wounds (Brunner2004; Yang 1999). The treatments were started on Day 3 after wounding,when granulation tissue first forms in wounds (Brunner 2004), andcontinued for 7,9, or 11 days in three independent treatmentexperiments. Several parameters commonly used to assess wound repair andscarring were measured (Ashcroft 1999; Cheon 2006; Shah 1995).

Histological analysis showed that the granulation tissue/scar area inthe wounds was strikingly smaller in all groups that received homingpeptide decorins. Representative micrographs and quantification ofgranulation tissue from wounds at Day 14 after the wounding are shown inFIG. 2. The homing peptide decorins reduced the wound area byapproximately 50% relative to control groups. Non-modified decorin, orthe homing peptides alone, produced no statistically significantchanges. Wound width (the width of hyperproliferative epidermis) wasalso significantly decreased in groups receiving homing peptide decorins(FIG. 2 c). Re-epithelialization was accelerated by the homing peptidedecorins; the result was highly significant for aCRK-decorin/CAR-decorin combination (FIG. 2 d).

TGF-β is likely to be an important target of decorin because it plays akey role in scar formation (Werner 2003; Brunner 2004; Leask 2004;Ashcroft 1999), and decorin inhibits TGF-β-dependent responses (Border1992; Yamaguchi 1990; Yamaguchi 1988; Hildebrand 1994). The homingpeptide decorins inhibited gene expression of several TGF-β-inducedgenes that play are associated with scar formation (Leask 2006;Grotendorst 2005; Border 1990). The inhibition was about 50% at day 5 ofhealing, when TGF activity peaks in wounds (FIGS. 3 a and 7). Thetransformation of fibroblasts to α-SMA-positive myofibroblasts, which isTGF-β-dependent and responsible for converting granulation tissue topermanent scar tissue (Desmouliere 2005) was greatly reduced at latertime-points (FIG. 3 b).

TGF-β stimulation of fibroblast growth and extracellular matrixproduction is primarily mediated by CTGF/CCN2, which is one of the genesfound to be down-regulated by the homing peptide decorins. However, toenhance the proliferation of wound fibroblasts, CCN2 requires thepresence of epidermal growth factor (EGF). Interestingly, decorin alsoantagonizes EGF by binding to EGF receptors (Iozzo 1999; Santra 2000).Thus, wound-targeted decorin, by virtue of being able to block bothTGF-β and EGF signaling, may be superior to therapeutic approaches thatonly inhibit TGF-β. Moreover, decorin can to be a physiologicalregulator of scar formation, as decorin expression is induced ininflamed tissues, and decorin null mice exhibit accentuated scarring.

The CRK and CAR peptides can deliver other payloads to wounds with 40-to 150-fold efficiency relative to the same payload without homingpeptide modification. As decorin seems to have an inherent ability toaccumulate in wounds (FIG. 5) and tumors, the homing increment providedby the peptides may not be as high as with a neutral payload; tissuestaining suggested a 5-fold enhancement of decorin homing.

In general terms, these results show that targeted delivery can extendthe use of therapeutic molecules to wounds and traumas inaccessible bytopical delivery. This opens Lip new possibilities in traumatology andgeneral surgery.

Mutated TGF-β and EGF-related growth pathways are an important driver oftumor growth in a number of cancers, and TGF-β may play a particularrole in progenitor-like cells of breast cancers (Shipitsin 2007).Decorin can inhibit the growth of tumor cells in vitro and suppresstumor growth and metastasis in vivo. The wound-homing peptides alsorecognize tumor blood vessels and bind to tumor cells. Thus, targeteddecorins can also find application in tumor therapy.

i. Methods

a. Peptides and Fusion Proteins

Peptides were synthesized with an automated peptide synthesizer by usingstandard solid-phase fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl chemistry. Duringsynthesis, the peptides were labeled with fluorescein with anamino-hexanoic acid spacer as described (Laakkonen 2002).

The decorin (Krusius 1986) constructs were expressed in 293-F cellsusing the FreeStyle 293 expression system from Invitrogen (Invitrogen,Carlsbad, Calif.) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Thecells were cultured for 48 hrs and the decorins were isolated from themedia on Ni-NTA agarose beads (Qiagen, GmbH, Germany) using 5 ml ofbeads per 500 ml of media. After an overnight incubation at +4° C., thebeads were washed with PBS, and decorin was eluted with PBS containing300 mM imidazole, dialyzed against PBS, and stored at −80° C.

b. Wound Healing Model and Treatment Schedule

Six 8-week-old male BALB/c mice were anesthetized withintraperitoneally-injected 2.5% avertin. Skin was shaved, cleaned, anddisinfected with betadine and 70% alcohol. All animal experimentsreceived approval from the IACUC of Burnham Institute for MedicalResearch. Treatment trials were conducted on mice that had circular, 8mm-diameter, full thickness (including panniculus carnosus muscle)excision wounds in the dorsal skin. The wounds were first marked by abiopsy bunch and then cut with scissors. All skin wounds were leftuncovered without a dressing.

The treatments were started three days after wounding and consisted ofdaily tail vein injections. The dose for decorins was 40 μg perinjection, selected based on previous treatment studies (Border 1992),except that the dose was doubled on Days 4-6 to coincide with theexpected peak of TGF-β expression in the wounds. Bovine Serum Albumin(BSA) was used as a control protein. Peptides were administered at 1 μg(2 μg on days 4-6) per injection. For the CRK-decorin-CAR-decorinmixture, the daily dose consisted of 30% CRK-decorin and 70% CAR-decorinbetween Days 3 and 6. The ratio was reversed from Day 7 based onpreviously determined homing profiles of CRK and CAR phage to wounds atdifferent time-points. The wounds were inspected and photographed daily,and scored for complete re-epithelialization. At the end of thetreatment period, the animals were sacrificed and the wounds collectedand processed for analyses.

Image analysis and quantification of granulation tissue/wound area, andhyperproliferative epidermis were done using ImageJ program (NIH,Bethesda, Mass.). The wounds were cut in the middle, one section fromeach side of the wound was evaluated, and the average of these twovalues was used in the analysis. The length of hyperproliferativeepidermis and size of the wound tissue were determined from the Massontrichrome stained tissue sections.

Cell culture, binding assays, processing of tissue samples,immunohistochemistry, and real time PCR were performed using standardmethods (Supplementary Material).

ii. Statistical Analysis

For comparisons of multiple groups, statistical analysis was carried outby two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) complemented by the Bonferronipost hoc test for pair wise comparisons between the test groups. In thefrequency outcome variable (percentage of completere-epithelialization), the groups were compared with the χ2 test. Pvalues of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Thesignificance level shown refers to two-tailed test.

iii. Primers for Decorin Cloning

The following primers were synthesized to amplify full-length humandecorin cDNA from pGEM1-PG40 cloning vector¹ and to clone EcoR I and SalI restriction-sites and his-tag into the C-terminus of the decorin:5′-ACGTGGATCCATGAAGGCCACTATCATCCTCCTTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 11) and5′-ATCCGCTCGAGTTAGTGATGGTGATGGTGATGCGAGCTGCCGCGCGGCACCAGGTCGACGAATTCCGAGCCCTTATAGTTTCCGAGTTGAATGGCAGA (SEQ ID NO: 12). Theresulting PCR-product was then subcloned into baculovirus-expressionvector pFastBac1 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). The wound homingpeptides were cloned between the C-terminus of the decorin and thehis-tag by allowing the following primers to anneal together: CAR;5′-AATTTTGTGCACGTTCGAAGAACAAAGATTGCG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 13) and5′-TCGACGCAATCTTTGTTCTTCGAACGTGCACAA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 14) and CRK;5′-AATTTTGCCGGAAGGATAAGTGCG-3′(SEQ ID NO: 15) and5′-TCGACGCACTTATCCTTCCGGCAA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 16). The homing peptidecoding sequences were ligated to the EcoR I and Sal I restriction sites.The following primers were synthesized to amplify the resultingconstruct flanked with a Kozak sequence from the pFastBac1-vector tomammalian expression vector pcDNA3.1/myc-his-C (Invitrogen, Carlsbad,Calif.): 5′-ACGTGGATCCGGACCGTTTCAACAGAGAGGCTTATTTGACTTTATGCTAGA-3′ (SEQID NO: 17) and 5′-ATCCGCTCGAGTTAGTGATGGTGATGGTGATGCGAGCT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:18). A map of the C-terminus of the decorin fusion proteins is shown inFIG. 4.

iv. Characterization of Recombinant Decorins

Decorins were analyzed on SDS-PAGE on 4%-20% acrylamide gradient gels.Some of the gels were stained with Coomassie Blue, while others wereused to transfer the proteins to PVDF membrane and immunoblots wereperformed with monoclonal anti-6-histidine tag antibody (1:1 000, clone18184, Novus Biologicals, Littleton, Colo.) and goat anti-mouse IgG-HRP(diluted 1:25,000; Bio-Rad, Hercules, Calif.) and then developed usingECL+plus chemiluminescence reagent (Amersham Biosciences, Piscataway,N.J.), according to the manufacturer's instructions.

For mass spectrometry analysis, proteins were separated on 10% SDS-PAGE.Protein bands were detected by silver staining, extracted, and subjectedto in-gel trypsin digestion and peptide mass fingerprinting inMALDI-TOF.

Protein folding was examined by differential scanning calorimetry usingN-DSC II differential calorimeter (Calorimetry Sciences Corp., Provo,Utah) at a scanning rate of I oK/min under 3.0 atm of pressure. Proteinsamples were dialyzed against PBS and the analyses were carried out at1.0 mg/ml of protein with PBS as reference.

Cell Proliferation And Cell Binding Assays

The effect of decorin preparations on CHO-K cell proliferation wasdetermined as described previously (Yamaguchi 1990; Yamaguchi 1988). Thecells were grown in media containing fetal bovine serum that had beendialyzed in a dialysis cassette (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.). The cells wereplated in duplicate at a density of 2×10⁴ cells per well in 24-wellplates and cultured in 600 μl of culture media. Half of the medium wasreplaced daily with fresh medium containing decorin. Cells werecollected by trypsinization, washed and resuspended in 1 ml of PBScontaining 2 μg/ml of propidium iodide (PI) and 20,000 CountBrightcounting beads (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), and analyzed by counting1,000 beads in FACS. Cell number was also determined by hemocytometer.

To study decorin binding and internalization, CHO-K andglycosaminoglycan-deficient pgsA-745 cells seeded on plastic coverslipswere incubated with different decorins for 4 to 72 hrs, washed 3 timeswith PBS, and fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde for 20 min at roomtemperature. After several washes with PBS, the primary antibodiesagainst human decorin and 6-histidine were applied on slides for onehour at room temperature, and the primary antibodies were detected withAlexaFluor 488 anti-mouse and anti-rabbit IgGs (1:1,000 and 1:3,000,Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). After several washes with PBS, the nucleiwere visualized by staining with DAPI, and the slides were mounted withProLong Gold antifade reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). The imageswere acquired using Olympus IX81 inverted and Olympus Fluoview FV1000confocal microscopes. Z-stack images were taken by confocal microscopeevery 1 μm through the cells.

v. Histology

Wound tissues were isolated, bisected, fixed overnight in 10% bufferedzinc formalin (Statlab Medical Products, Lewisville, Tex.), dehydrated,and embedded in paraffin. Sections (6 μm) from the middle of the woundwere stained with hematoxylin/eosin or using the Masson trichromeprocedure, or processed for immunohistochemistry.

vi. Immunohistochemistry

Frozen sections were fixed in acetone for 10 min and pre-incubated with0.5% blocking reagent for 1 hr (NEN Life Sciences, Boston, Mass.).Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue sections were deparaffinized,incubated with the blocking reagent, and endogenous peroxidase activitywas suppressed with hydrogen peroxide. Tissue sections were incubatedwith the primary antibody overnight at 4° C. The primary antibodies weredetected with corresponding secondary antibodies, and each stainingexperiment included slides stained with species-matched immunoglobulinsas negative controls. The slides were washed several times in PBS,mounted in Vectashield Mounting Medium with DAPI (Vector Laboratories)and visualized under an inverted fluorescent or light microscope.

The following monoclonal (mAbs) and polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) wereused: mouse anti-human HRP-conjugated α-SMA mAb (clone 1A4, DAKO,Glostrup, Denmark), rabbit anti-6-histidine tag pAb (1:400, cloneNB600-318, Novus Biologicals, Littleton, Colo.), and mouse anti-humandecorin mAb (30 μg/ml, clone MAB143, R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.).

vii. Real Time PCR

Mice with five-day-old skin wounds were anesthetized and perfusedthrough the heart with 25 ml of ice-cold PBS, after which thegranulation/wound tissue was excised under an operating microscope.Approximately 20-30 mg of tissue was treated with RNAlater (Ambion,Inc., Austin, Tex.) to preserve RNA. The tissue samples were immersed inthe Trizol reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), homogenized usingMagNA Lyser (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, Ind.), and prepared forRT-PCR as described (Galang 2004). RT-PCR was performed using an Mx3000pinstrument (Stratagene Inc, La Jolla, Calif.) by following theprocedures as described in RT Profiler PCR Array user manual (SuperArrayBioscience Corp. Frederick, Md.). Replicate analysis consisted of twopools of RNA isolated from two wounds in each of four different animals.

a. Other Results

The effect of targeted decorins on myofibroblast differention was shownduring skin wound healing. Differentiated myofibroblasts were visualizedwith antibody against α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in wounds of micereceiving various treatments. Representative sections from woundscollected at day 10 after the wounding from mice treated with: BSAcontrol; CAR peptide; CRK peptide; decorin, CRK-decorin; CAR-decorin;CB-decorin (a mixture of CAR-decorin and CRK-decorin); and decorintreated wound stained with class-matched mouse IgG. Those animalstreated with decorin coupled to the CAR and CRK peptides showed thehighest levels of myofibroblast differentiation.

Cloning and expression of decorin-homing peptide fusions were carriedout. The CAR or CRK peptide sequence and a his-tag were cloned intoC-terminus of full-length human decorin cDNA. Decorin and the homingpeptide fusions were expressed in mammalian cells, purified on aNi-column and analyzed on SDS-PAGE using 10% gels. The proteins weredetected with a monoclonal anti-human decorin antibody.

CAR-targeted decorin internalization was confirmed by confocalmicroscope. CHO-K were first incubated for 72 h, after which BSA,decorin, CRK-targeted decorin and CAR-targeted decorin (0.3 μg) wereadded for four hours. Decorin molecules were detected with anti-hisantibody, which was detected with FITC-conjugated secondary antibody.CAR-targeted decorin internalizes and reverses the spreading out of thetumor cells already within four hours.

CAR-targeted decorin does not internalize to the nucleus when the cellslack heparan sulphate proteoglycans. pgsA-745 mutant CHO line that isdefective in glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis were first incubated for 72h, after which BSA, decorin, CRK-targeted decorin and CAR-targeteddecorin (0.3 μg) were added for four hours. Decorin molecules weredetected with anti-his antibody, which was detected with FITC-conjugatedsecondary antibody. CAR-targeted decorin has similar binding pattern tocells as normal decorin and does not internalizes when the cells aredevoid of heparan sulphate proteoglycans.

CAR and CRK peptides home to tumors and extravasate to tumor tissue.Fluorescein-conjugated peptides CAR, control peptide CAR2, CRK andcontrol peptide KAREC were intravenously injected into mice withMDA-MB-235 tumor xenografts. Tumor tissue was collected 4 hours laterand examined for the presence of the peptides. Blood vessels werestained with CD-31 antibody and the nuclei were stained with DAPI.

CAR and CRK peptides home to hypervascular regions surrounding thetumors and to tumor tissue. Fluorescein-conjugated peptides CAR, controlpeptide CAR2, CRK and control peptide KAREC were intravenously injectedinto mice with MDA-MB-235 tumor xenografts. Tumor tissue was collected 4hours later and examined for the presence of the peptides. Adjacenttissue section were stained for blood vessels (CD-31), while theFITC-labeled peptide was first detected with rabbit anti-FITC followedby biotin-conjugated anti-rabbit IgG to confirm the source offluorescent signal to be from the FITC-labeled peptide. The sectionswere then stained with hematoxylin-eosin.

Wound width in mice treated with targeted decorins was shown. The lengthof the hyperproliferative epidermis was determined from both halves ofthe wound and expressed as the average of the two values. There were sixanimals (each with three wounds) in each time point in each treatmentgroup at Day 10 and 12, respectively. Those animals treated with decorinhas the narrowest wounds, showing that healing had taken place.

Granulation tissue and scar formation during wound healing in micetreated with targeted decorins was measured. The area of granulationtissue/scar area was determined from both halves of the wound andexpressed as the average of the two values. There were five animals(each with three wounds) in each time-point in each treatment group atday 10, 12, respectively. Those animals treated with decorin showed thatthe most healing had taken place.

Throughout this application, various publications are referenced. Thedisclosures of these publications in their entireties are herebyincorporated by reference into this application in order to more fullydescribe the state of the art to which this invention pertains.

It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, thesingular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural reference unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “apeptide” includes a plurality of such peptides, reference to “thepeptide” is a reference to one or more peptides and equivalents thereofknown to those skilled in the art, and so forth.

“Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event,circumstance, or material may or may not occur or be present, and thatthe description includes instances where the event, circumstance, ormaterial occurs or is present and instances where it does not occur oris not present.

Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value,and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range isexpressed, also specifically contemplated and considered disclosed isthe range from the one particular value and/or to the other particularvalue unless the context specifically indicates otherwise. Similarly,when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent“about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another,specifically contemplated embodiment that should be considered disclosedunless the context specifically indicates otherwise. It will be furtherunderstood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant bothin relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the otherendpoint unless the context specifically indicates otherwise. Finally,it should be understood that all of the individual values and sub-rangesof values contained within an explicitly disclosed range are alsospecifically contemplated and should be considered disclosed unless thecontext specifically indicates otherwise. The foregoing appliesregardless of whether in particular cases some or all of theseembodiments are explicitly disclosed.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meanings as commonly understood by one of skill in the artto which the disclosed method and compositions belong. Although anymethods and materials similar or equivalent to those described hereincan be used in the practice or testing of the present method andcompositions, the particularly useful methods, devices, and materialsare as described. Publications cited herein and the material for whichthey are cited are hereby specifically incorporated by reference.Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the presentinvention is not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of priorinvention. No admission is made that any reference constitutes priorart. The discussion of references states what their authors assert, andapplicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency ofthe cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although anumber of publications are referred to herein, such reference does notconstitute an admission that any of these documents forms part of thecommon general knowledge in the art.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word“comprise” and variations of the word, such as “comprising” and“comprises,” means “including but not limited to,” and is not intendedto exclude, for example, other additives, components, integers or steps.

It is understood that the disclosed method and compositions are notlimited to the particular methodology, protocols, and reagents describedas these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology usedherein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, andis not intended to limit the scope of the present invention which willbe limited only by the appended claims.

Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain usingno more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specificembodiments of the method and compositions described herein. Suchequivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

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1. An isolated peptide comprising an amino acid segment comprising theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, the amino acid sequence of SEQ IDNO: 1 having one or two conservative amino acid substitutions, or theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 having three or more conservativeamino acid substitutions.
 2. The isolated peptide of claim 1, whereinthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 has two conservative amino acidsubstitutions, wherein the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 has threeconservative amino acid substitutions.
 3. An isolated peptide comprisingan amino acid segment comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the peptide has a length of less than 100 residues.
 4. Theisolated peptide of claim 1, wherein the peptide has a length of lessthan 50 residues.
 5. The isolated peptide of claim 1, wherein thepeptide has a length of less than 20 residues.
 6. The isolated peptideof claim 1, wherein the amino acid segment is cyclic.
 7. The isolatedpeptide of claim 6, wherein the amino acid segment is cyclicized via adisulfide bond.
 8. The isolated peptide of claim 1, wherein the peptideselectively homes to regenerating tissue.
 9. The isolated peptide ofclaim 8, wherein the regenerating tissue is at a site of injury.
 10. Theisolated peptide of claim 8, wherein the regenerating tissue is at asurgical site.
 11. The isolated peptide of claim 1, wherein the peptideselectively homes to a tumor.
 12. The isolated peptide of claim 1,wherein the peptide selectively homes to a site of inflammation.
 13. Theisolated peptide of claim 1, wherein the peptide selectively homes to asite of arthritis.
 14. The isolated peptide of claim 1, wherein thepeptide consists of the amino acid segment.
 15. A conjugate, wherein theconjugate comprises a moiety linked to the peptide of claim
 1. 16. Theconjugate of claim 15, wherein the peptide selectively interacts withregenerating tissue.
 17. The conjugate of claim 15, wherein the peptideselectively interacts with tissue at a site of inflammation.
 18. Theconjugate of claim 15, wherein the peptide selectively interacts withtissue at a site of arthritis.
 19. The conjugate of claim 15, whereinthe peptide selectively interacts with a tumor.
 20. The conjugate ofclaim 15, wherein the moiety is a an anti-angiogenic agent, apro-angiogenic agent, a cancer chemotherapeutic agent, a cytotoxicagent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-arthritic agent, apolypeptide, a nucleic acid molecule, a small molecule, a fluorophore,fluorescein, rhodamine, a radionuclide, indium-111, technetium-99,carbon-11, carbon-13, or a combination.
 21. The conjugate of claim 15,wherein the moiety is a therapeutic agent.
 22. The conjugate of claim21, wherein the therapeutic agent is decorin.
 23. The conjugate of claim15, wherein the moiety is a detectable agent.
 24. The conjugate of claim15, wherein the conjugate comprises a virus.
 25. The conjugate of claim24, wherein the conjugate comprises a phage.
 26. An isolated peptidecomprising an amino acid segment comprising the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, or the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1or SEQ ID NO: 2 having one or more conservative amino acidsubstitutions, wherein the peptide is fused to at least one heterologousmoiety, wherein the moiety is not a polypeptide.
 27. An isolated peptidecomprising an amino acid segment comprising the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, or the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1or SEQ ID NO: 2 having one or more conservative amino acidsubstitutions, wherein the peptide is part of a chimeric protein.
 28. Anisolated peptide consisting of an amino acid segment, wherein the aminoacid segment consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQID NO: 2, or the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2having one or more conservative amino acid substitutions, wherein thepeptide has a length of less than 20 residues.
 29. An isolated peptideconsisting of an amino acid segment, wherein the amino acid segmentconsists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2. 30.An isolated peptide consisting of an amino acid segment consisting ofthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, or the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2 having one, two, or threeconservative amino acid substitutions.
 31. An isolated peptidecomprising an amino acid segment comprising the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 2, or the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 having one ormore conservative amino acid substitutions, wherein the peptide has alength of less than 20 residues.
 32. The isolated peptide of claim 31,wherein the amino acid segment is cyclic.
 33. The isolated peptide ofclaim 32, wherein the amino acid segment is cyclicized via a disulfidebond.
 34. The isolated peptide of claim 31, wherein the peptideselectively homes to regenerating tissue.
 35. The isolated peptide ofclaim 31, wherein the peptide selectively homes to a tumor.
 36. Theisolated peptide of claim 31, wherein the peptide selectively homes to asite of inflammation.
 37. The isolated peptide of claim 31, wherein thepeptide is part of a chimeric protein.
 38. The isolated peptide of claim31, wherein the peptide consists of the amino acid segment, wherein theamino acid segment consists of the amino acid sequence.
 39. A conjugate,wherein the conjugate comprises a moiety linked to the peptide of claim31.
 40. An isolated peptide comprising an amino acid segment comprisingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, or the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 2 having one or more conservative amino acid substitutions,wherein the peptide has a length of less than 100 residues, wherein theamino acid segment is cyclic.
 41. The isolated peptide of claim 40,wherein the amino acid segment is cyclicized via a disulfide bond. 42.The isolated peptide of claim 40, wherein the peptide selectively homesto regenerating tissue.
 43. The isolated peptide of claim 40, whereinthe peptide selectively homes to a tumor.
 44. The isolated peptide ofclaim 40, wherein the peptide selectively homes to a site ofinflammation.
 45. The isolated peptide of claim 40, wherein the peptideis part of a chimeric protein.
 46. The isolated peptide of claim 40,wherein the peptide consists of the amino acid segment, wherein theamino acid segment consists of the amino acid sequence.
 47. A conjugate,wherein the conjugate comprises a moiety linked to the peptide of claim40.
 48. An isolated peptide comprising an amino acid segment comprisingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, or the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 2 having one or more conservative amino acid substitutions,wherein the peptide has a length of less than 100 residues, wherein thepeptide is part of a chimeric protein.
 49. The isolated peptide of claim48, wherein the amino acid segment is cyclic.
 50. The isolated peptideof claim 49, wherein the amino acid segment is cyclicized via adisulfide bond.
 51. The isolated peptide of claim 48, wherein thepeptide selectively homes to regenerating tissue.
 52. The isolatedpeptide of claim 48, wherein the peptide selectively homes to a tumor.53. The isolated peptide of claim 48, wherein the peptide selectivelyhomes to a site of inflammation.
 54. The isolated peptide of claim 48,wherein the peptide consists of the amino acid segment, wherein theamino acid segment consists of the amino acid sequence.
 55. A conjugate,wherein the conjugate comprises a moiety linked to the peptide of claim48.
 56. A conjugate, wherein the conjugate comprises a moiety linked toa peptide comprising an amino acid segment comprising the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, or the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2having one or more conservative amino acid substitutions, wherein thepeptide has a length of less than 100 residues.
 57. The conjugate ofclaim 56, wherein the peptide selectively interacts with regeneratingtissue.
 58. The conjugate of claim 56, wherein the peptide selectivelyinteracts with tissue at a site of inflammation.
 59. The conjugate ofclaim 56, wherein the peptide selectively interacts with tissue at asite of arthritis.
 60. The conjugate of claim 56, wherein the peptideselectively interacts with a tumor.
 61. The conjugate of claim 56,wherein the moiety is a an anti-angiogenic agent, a pro-angiogenicagent, a cancer chemotherapeutic agent, a cytotoxic agent, ananti-inflammatory agent, an anti-arthritic agent, a polypeptide, anucleic acid molecule, a small molecule, a fluorophore, fluorescein,rhodamine, a radionuclide, indium-111, technetium-99, carbon-11,carbon-13, or a combination.
 62. The conjugate of claim 56, wherein themoiety is a therapeutic agent.
 63. The conjugate of claim 62, whereinthe therapeutic agent is decorin.
 64. The conjugate of claim 56, whereinthe moiety is a detectable agent.
 65. The conjugate of claim 56, whereinthe conjugate comprises a virus.
 66. The conjugate of claim 65, whereinthe conjugate comprises a phage.
 67. The isolated peptide of claim 1,wherein the peptide has a length of less than 100 residues.
 68. Theisolated peptide of claim 1, wherein the amino acid sequence of SEQ IDNO: 1 has one conservative amino acid substitution.
 69. An isolatedpeptide comprising an amino acid segment comprising the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 70. An isolated peptide comprising an aminoacid segment comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, whereinthe peptide has a length of less than 70 residues.
 71. An isolatedpeptide comprising an amino acid segment comprising the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1having one or more conservative amino acid substitutions, wherein thepeptide has a length of less than 50 residues.
 72. An isolated peptidecomprising an amino acid segment comprising the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 2 or the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 having one ormore conservative amino acid substitutions, wherein the peptide has alength of less than 30 residues.
 73. An isolated peptide comprising anamino acid segment comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1having four or more conservative amino acid substitutions, wherein thepeptide has a length of less than 100 residues.
 74. An isolated peptidecomprising an amino acid segment comprising the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 2 having two or more conservative amino acid substitutions,wherein the peptide has a length of less than 90 residues.